2022 Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere rouge - Cru Classe Pessac-Leognan

Decanter.com – 96 pts - GH: *Round, concentrated, vibrant and dynamic, a lovely burst of intense red and black fruits before quite serious tannins take hold in the mouth. Fine but full, they give the frame and the structure, setting the tone for a serious wine while the fruit and freshnes softly expand giving an aerial element to the finish. A lovely wine with intensity and detail, not the most demonstrative or juicy and appealing right now, but really well made and delivered. Supple, bright, chalky, chewy, this wine has intensity and precision. A little bit serious towards the end, the fruit just losing some focus, where it becomes more about the tannins and freshness but lots to like here with good potential. 1.5% Cabernet Franc. A yield 27hl/ha. HVE3 certified.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 95 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zarte Edelholznuancen, schwarze Waldbeeren, ein Hauch von Lakritze, Orangenzesten sind unterlegt, etwas Nugat, attraktives Bukett. Saftig, reife Pflaumen, frischer Säurebogen, kompakt und anhaltend, sehr gute Länge, vielverspechendes Potenzial.* - 01/2023

Vinum Magazin – 18/20 pts: *Interessante, fruchtig-würzige Aromatik; fleischiger Auftakt,fruchtig Entwicklung, erstklassiges, ungemein feinpulveriges Tannin, grosse Länge; besitzt Rasse und Klasse.* - 04/2023

WeinWisser – 17+/20pts – GL, TW: *Intensives Bouquet, edle Cassiswürze, Fliedernoten, Preiselbeersaft und frischgemahlener schwarzer Bergpfeffer. Am satten Gaumen mit weicher Textur, körnigem Extrakt, herrlichem Druck, engmaschigem Tanningerüst, stützender Rasse und mittlerem Körper. Im gebündelten aromatischen Finale Wildkirsche, Estragon, heller Tabak und feinmürbe Adstringenz. Kann noch zulegen.* – 04/2023

JancisRobinson.com – 16,5+/20pts – JR: * 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Bright, healthy crimson. Rather polished and luscious in texture with very refined tannins and an impressive fruit/acidity balance. Not heavy but certainly harmonious.* - 04/2023

JamesSuckling.com – (96-96) pts: * This is very, very fine with wonderfully polished tannins that are silky in texture. It’s medium to full-bodied with lovely length, lasting a minute or two. Hints of crushed stone and fine sea salt. Finesse with structure. Could move up a notch with the elevage. 53% cabernet sauvignon, 43% merlot, 2.5% petit verdot, and 1.5% cabernet franc.*

Vinous.com – (94-96,5) pts – AG: *The 2022 Malartic Lagravière exudes class. Bright, layered and wonderfully vibrant, the 2022 is so alive. Rose petals, lavender, crushed rocks, mint and red/purplish fruit race across the palate. All the elements are so well balanced. Malartic Lagravière has all the potential to be one of the great wines of the year. This is a fabulous showing. Tasted two times.* - 04/2023

Vinous.com – (93-95) pts – NM: *The 2022 Malartic Lagravière was picked 5 to 29 September at 27hL/ha and matured in 60% new oak. Blackberry, iodine and incense aromas unfurl in the glass, nicely focused and delineated, quite airy in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. Cohesive and powdery in texture, with black fruit, crushed stone and light ash-like notes toward the finish. This is an excellent, quite "swarthy" Malartic that will age with style, though it will only repay the patient.* - 04/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (94-96) pts – JL: *With a depth of color, the wine pops with nuances of flowers, cherries, cedar, tobacco leaf, black currants, spice, cocoa, and mint tea. Even better on the palate, the concentrated, showy display of spicy, black cherries, blackberries, plums, white pepper, and dark chocolate is perfectly balanced with length, freshness and creamy, silkiness in the finish. The wine is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot and 1.5% Cabernet Franc. 14.2% ABV pH 3.58. Harvesting took place September 5 - September 29. Drink from 2026-2050.* - 05/2023