Château Malartic-Lagravière 2017

Quite ripe, with succulent plum, cassis and raspberry pâte de fruit flavors mixed together, lined with licorice and anise details, showing a well-integrated apple wood note on the finish, backed by a light scoring of tar. Exhibits lots of compact energy, so this should unwind nicely in the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2022 through 2035. 6,250 cases made.

Deep in colour, with a rich, sweet character to the fruit – it’s clear how carefully they have worked to maintain mid-palate roundness in a vintage where half of the fruit was lost to frost (affecting mainly the 2nd wine, with a 22hl/ha yield overall). It’s enjoyable and opens up in the glass. Not as concentrated as the 2018 or 2016 vintages at Malartic, but there’s an awful lot going for it, with precision and poise, and it has settled into itself over ageing.

This has plenty of rich fruit in the dark-cherry and cassis zone. The oak is nicely played into earthy accents, too. The tannins are smooth-grained and open out smoothly on the finish, delivering creamy, ripe berries. Drink or hold.

The 2017 Malartic-Lagravière is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. This has come on nicely since tasting it from barrel. The bouquet is almost understated at first, relying on its purity and delineation to seduce. Scents of blackberry and briary gently unfold with time. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannins, a lithe Pessac-Léognan with soft blackberry, red plum and redcurrant fruit laced with clove and white pepper towards the finish. Not a wine of astonishing complexity, but elegant and satisfying persistence. Enjoy this over the next 15 years, possibly longer.

Lush, round, sensuously textured, smoky fruits with extra notes of espresso, wet earth, thyme, and tobacco leaf hit your nose with ease. Round, soft, plush, and loaded with ripe, dark red berries and a kiss of oak from start to finish, give this at least 7–8 years and it could merit a higher score.

Deep dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening, attractive black berry fruit, delicate orange marmalade, fresh blackberry confit. Medium complexity, elegant, fresh cherries, integrated tannins, delicate nougat, mineral finish, offers uncomplicated drinking pleasure.

Garnet-ruby with a brightening rim. Floral-spicy bouquet, damson plums, a subtle hint of cassis and light tobacco. Textured palate with supportive tannins; the tannins still show a slightly austere edge and sinewy notes, giving a somewhat over-extracted impression. Will gain with time as it integrates its barrique élevage.

Kunz barrel sample 18: (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 22 hl/ha) Silky, elegant, fresh bouquet, blueberries, cassis, cedar, mocha yogurt. Densely interwoven, medium-bodied palate with delicate fruit, good tannins, powerful aromatics, finely muscular structure, long, fine finish.

Off-dry, elegant, fresh bouquet with delicate notes of plum, blueberry, tobacco and cedar. Silky, refined palate with an elegant structure, fine tannins, ripe fruit, powerful aromatics and a long, delicate finish. 17/20 2023 - 2042

The 2017 red Malartic Lagraviere is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It opens a little broodily with notes of cedar, tar, and sautéed herbs, over a cassis and black cherries core, plus a waft of black olives. Medium-bodied, the palate is savory and refreshing, delivering lightly chewy tannins and a mineral-laced finish.

The texture is smoother and the wine has gained depth. There is more complexity, and the wine continues to gain it rapidly.

The 2017 red is supple, with a juicy mid-palate and a tangy finish. A medium-aging wine that’s already accessible.

Juicy, full-bodied, fresh wine with imposing tannins and a long finish.

Malartic’s bouquet reveals itself in a filigreed manner. It is complex, subtle, and shows hints of blackcurrant, raspberry, and iris. The palate is fruity and refreshing. The wine has body and features compact, fine-grained tannins. The structure provides strong support and carries the aromatic expression through to the finish. A convincing wine that deserves a little cellaring.

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Very aromatic and refined nose with ripe fruit. Caressing on entry, then smooth at mid-palate, flavorful and highly perfumed, this wine glides across the palate, juicy and noble in its final presence. It’s good!

This ripe, structured wine is dense with tannins as well as acidity and black fruits. The weight and concentration promise well for the future, offering a richly juicy wine that will be ready to drink from 2023.