Château Malescot St Exupéry 2024

Dark-fruited and smoky on the nose, with herbal notes; on the palate, ripe cherry fruit builds solid intensity, the tannins are well-judged, and the acidity gives drive; the finish is somewhat short, ending red-fruited with a bitter, slightly drying touch of blood orange zest.

Perfumed aromatics. Intense and expressive. Nicely ripe and chewy – even a touch sweet – at first before becoming more sleek and tapering with cool blue fruit and salty stones. It’s ripe but also not so expressive on the finish, more calm right now. Sleek, refined and well presented, just compact and tight right now.

Licorice, black cherries, smoke, and chocolate aromas kick off the wine. On the palate, the wine is fresh, juicy, vibrant, and medium-bodied, with a touch of peppery chocolate mint that rides along with the cherries and currants on the finish. The wine is a blend of 53% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 7% Petit Verdot. 13% ABV. The harvest took place October 1–October 15. Drink from 2028–2047. 91–93 pts

Sun-warmed flowers and ripe red fruits create an opulent bouquet, as seductive as a count with a handlebar moustache. Enveloping on the palate, creamy, with present tannins, and then a juicy finish.

Inky in colour, roses, slate, liquorice, cassis bud, this is slim but with grip and texture, lifts through the palate and is an enjoyable if understated wine. 50% new oak. Harvest 1 to 15 October, Léa Zuger owner.

The nose is fruity, with a touch of concentration and real depth. It reveals notes of fleshy blackcurrant, concentrated blackberry and concentrated wild strawberry, combined with delicate hints of lilac and ripe wild red berries, along with a mineral touch. The palate is nicely crafted—supple, fresh, mineral and well-balanced—offering a fresh framework, juiciness, suppleness, a certain indulgent character, pulpy texture, softness and a fine brightness. On the palate, the wine shows notes of pulpy/juicy cherry, blackcurrant and, more lightly, purple plum, combined with touches of lilac and small red berries, as well as a hint of sweet tobacco, smoke and a subtle touch of vanilla. Good length. The tannins are mellow and savoury. A wine with an indulgent feel. A very discreet, almost coffee-like, sappy note in the background.

Dark, intense, beautiful color. Moderately aromatic, fruity nose. Creamier when the glass is swirled. Delicate on the attack, suave on the mid-palate, with a fine texture; the wine unfolds with aromatic notes over a refined tannic structure. Average length. Yield: 20 hl/ha.