Malartic Lagravière 2015

Dark crimson. Smells deep and dark and promising. Rich, chewy and less typically Pessac but lots going on. Full and sturdy and with bags of fruit to fill out this relatively powerful Pessac. Long and embryonic. (JH) 14%Drink 2025-2038

The 2015 Malartic-Lagravière is also terrific and comes from a 46-hectare vineyard in Léognan. Made from 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it offers a smorgasbord of aromatics including red currants, ripe cherries, cassis, licorice, toasty oak, and spice. With full-bodied richness, building tannin, and a rounded, sumptuous style, as well as a great finish, it’s going to benefit from several years in the cellar and keep for 15-20 years. Tasted three times. 2022 - 2042

The fruit is sweet and ripe the nose has depth and the palate dark chocolate richness. The ripe fruit on the mid palate is underpinned by bramble freshness balance with at the back rich sweet fruit and depth on the finish.

The wines from this property, both red and white, are getting better and better, showing lessoak and extraction than they used to. Structured, intense, yet refreshing and well balanced,this shows chalky minerality and fine, savoury fruit flavours. Drink: 2022-32

With a delicious scent of macerated berries and a good bright attack on the palate I can forgive the tannins because theyare bound to fall into line. Good wine.

The 2015 Malartic Lagraviere has enjoyed a fine run of form in recent vintages. This is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot with smaller portions of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. It has a comparatively flamboyant bouquet for the appellation with scents of raspberry, crushed strawberry, cedar and a touch of graphite that lends it a Pauillac-like veneer. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, crisp acidity, more black than red fruit infused with pencil lead and smoke. It fans out wonderfully toward the finish, completing a wonderful Malartic Lagravière that will age with panache. Anticipated maturity: 2020 - 2045.

The 2015 Malartic-Lagraviere is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot that was harvested between 21 September and 7 October at 43 hl/ha, matured in 80% new oak. It has a tightly wound bouquet, a little more reticent than its peers at first, opening gradually with blackberry, raspberry coulis and strawberry pastilles. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, a keen line of acidity, fresh and brisk with plenty of mineralité on the finish. This is a classic, serious Malartic with huge potential. Chapeau to the Bonnie family for creating a stupendous Pessac-Léognan. Drink: 2020 - 2050.

This shows fabulous depth of fruit and ripe tannins that last for minutes. Full body. Insane finish. Powerful. Greatest ever from here.

Dark crimson. Lively, putty nose - very lifted on the nose but then rather rich and sweet on the palate. Appetising, really mineral finish. Good stuff.Drink 2025-2040