Château Malartic-Lagravière 1997

Undoubtedly a sleeper of the vintage, this exceptionally charming, complex, elegant 1997 is neither big, weighty, nor powerful, yet it offers cedar, roasted herb, and sweet plum/cherry fruit in its aromas and flavors. The taster is seduced by the wine's silky, seamless texture, gorgeous aromatics, low acidity, and lovely levels of fruit. It will not make old bones, but who can resist it now? Enjoy it over the next 6-7 years. Bravo to the new owners of Malartic-Lagraviere!

Very good for the vintage. Deep ruby color. Fabulous aromas of berries, spices and tobacco. Full-bodied, with well-defined, soft and succulent tannins and a medium finish. Bit hollow at center palate.

Fairly dark wine-red color, already showing the first hints of evolution, yet still with a ruby rim. A beautiful, perfumed bouquet with gentle toasted notes: red cherries, light tobacco, and a dry caramel note. Light, juicy palate with an earthy sweetness, praline/chocolate notes, and softly stewed, plummy fruit on an elegantly lingering finish. A real pleasure now and over the next two years.

99: Warm, powerful blackberry bouquet, very complex and expansive. On the palate it starts out rounded, but the extract then reveals massive, ripe, still time-demanding tannins, with plenty of richness in the tannic structure. This is the very first vintage of the new Malartic-Lagravière era, showing that the owner is determined, with the help of renowned oenologists, to produce truly great Graves wines. 03: Fairly dark wine-red colour, already showing a first hint of development yet still with a ruby rim. Beautiful, perfumed, gently toasty bouquet: red cherries, light tobacco, a dry caramel note. Light, juicy palate, earthy sweetness, praline, gently stewed plum-like fruit in an elegantly tapering finish—pure enjoyment now and over the next two years.

Moderately intense, unusual bouquet. Lean, dry palate. (16) 14/20

Very smoky, gamey, slightly dried out by the oak, crafted and powerful but lacking balance.

Dark color. Smoky, fruity nose. Straightforward palate, medium-bodied, finishing with a slightly oaky note.