2017 Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere rouge - Cru Classe Pessac-Leognan

Decanter.com – 93 pts – JA: *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 an awful lot going for it, with precision and poise, and it has settled in to itself over ageing.* - 09/2019

Falstaff Magazin – 91 pts - PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, attraktive schwarze Beerenfrucht, zart nach Orangenmarmelade, frisches Brombeerkonfit. Mittlere Komplexität, elegant, frische Kirschen, integrierte Tannine, zarter Nougat, mineralischer Abgang, bietet unkompliziertes Trinkvergnügen.* - 05/2018

Vinum Magazin – 17,5/20pts: *Das Primeurmuster enttäuschte uns, doch der fertig abgefüllte Wein ist von gewohnter Klasse: voller Ansatz, dichter Bau, grosse Länge, Klassetannin, superbes Johannisbeer- Cassisfinale; sollte reifen.* - 09/2020

WeinWisser – 17/20pts - WL: *Granatrubin mit aufhellendem Rand. Floral-würziges Bouquet, Damassinepflaumen, dezenter Cassis-Hauch und heller Tabak. Stoffiger Gaumen, stützende Tannine, die Gerbstoffe zeigen noch eine dezent spröde Tendenz und kernige Noten, wirkt daher etwas überextrahiert. Wird noch zulegen, wenn er dies mit dem Barriqueausbau verdaut.* – 05/2018

Vinous.com – 91 pts – AG: *The 2017 Malartic Lagravière is a rich, sumptuous wine endowed with tremendous richness. Raspberry jam, mocha, new oak, licorice, mint, chocolate and sweet spice are all kicked up a few notches in this flamboyant, exotic Pessac-Léognan. This is an especially dense, heady style. I would give the 2017 a few years in bottle to see if the new oak integrates a bit more fully. Tasted three times.* - 03/2020

Vinous.com – 92 pts – NM: *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.* - 02/2020

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 93 pts – JL: *Lush, round, sensuously textured, smokey 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 could merit a higher score.* - 05/2020