Château Malartic-Lagravière
Grand Cru Classés de Graves Pessac-Léognan Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Pessac-Léognan, Graves, Bordeaux, France
Pineapple nuances initially but on settling more citrus and nuts. Waxy notes on the palate. Barrel fermented in approx 50% new oak. A style not followed widely by Australian wine makers. They should - the oak adds another dimension. The vines are planted on deep well draining gravel over clay sub soil. I love having wines like this out of the usual. I bought this at Hedonism Wines, London in July 2019. I’ve never seen this Cuvée offered in Australia but may have missed it. Back story - This Cuvée used to be 100% Sauvignon Blanc but under the ownership of Belgian businessman, Alfred Alexandre Bonnie, further investment was made and Semillon was introduced to give more complexity. Now 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon.
Pineapple nuances initially but on settling more citrus and nuts. Waxy notes on the palate. Barrel fermented in approx 50% new oak. A style not followed widely by Australian wine makers. They should - the oak adds another dimension. The vines are planted on deep well draining gravel over clay sub soil. I love having wines like this out of the usual. I bought this at Hedonism Wines, London in July 2019. I’ve never seen this Cuvée offered in Australia but may have missed it. Back story - This Cuvée used to be 100% Sauvignon Blanc but under the ownership of Belgian businessman, Alfred Alexandre Bonnie, further investment was made and Semillon was introduced to give more complexity. Now 80% Sauvignon Blanc, 20% Semillon.
May 6th, 2024
Lovers ❣️
SCORE: 99+ (always room for improvement).
Wine...
93 points
Lovers ❣️
SCORE: 99+ (always room for improvement).
Wine...
93 points
2001 vintage. 80 % Sauvignon blanc and 20% Sémillon. So glad I had a second bottle of this wine. The first one was beautiful, but this is even better. Deep golden colour. Intensely complex nose with beeswax, lemon confit, dried flowers and honey. Concentrated layered dried fruit, rich and powerful, but beautifully balanced by the acidity. Incredible length with almonds, honey and retronasal dried fruit. Paired this with an amazing Morocco tajine with chicken, olives, lemon confit and potatoes and it was a match made in heaven. Abv. 13,5 %.
2001 vintage. 80 % Sauvignon blanc and 20% Sémillon. So glad I had a second bottle of this wine. The first one was beautiful, but this is even better. Deep golden colour. Intensely complex nose with beeswax, lemon confit, dried flowers and honey. Concentrated layered dried fruit, rich and powerful, but beautifully balanced by the acidity. Incredible length with almonds, honey and retronasal dried fruit. Paired this with an amazing Morocco tajine with chicken, olives, lemon confit and potatoes and it was a match made in heaven. Abv. 13,5 %.
Jun 1st, 2020
Lemon, lime, minerals, peach. Plenty of acidity. Rich and yet fresh. Excellent.
Lemon, lime, minerals, peach. Plenty of acidity. Rich and yet fresh. Excellent.
Jan 21st, 2020Varietal in a green-leaning way.
Varietal in a green-leaning way.
Jan 5th, 20202001 vintage. 80 % Sauvignon blanc, 20 % Sémillon. Low yields (25 hl/ha), 10000 bottles produced. Deep golden colour, looks older than it tastes. Intense perfume of bee wax, almonds and dried flowers. Powerful, profound and very good length. For lovers of older white Bordeaux.
2001 vintage. 80 % Sauvignon blanc, 20 % Sémillon. Low yields (25 hl/ha), 10000 bottles produced. Deep golden colour, looks older than it tastes. Intense perfume of bee wax, almonds and dried flowers. Powerful, profound and very good length. For lovers of older white Bordeaux.
Nov 26th, 2019
Patrol and creamy dough on the nose, more creaminess on the palate with white flowers and alcohol. Fragrant, quite pointed. Not very rounded.
Patrol and creamy dough on the nose, more creaminess on the palate with white flowers and alcohol. Fragrant, quite pointed. Not very rounded.
Aug 31st, 2019Golden yellow, beautiful marzipan baked apple aromatics, surprisingly fresh and youthful, creamy texture, honeyed, zingy lemon, apricot, toasted nuts, butterscotch. Absolutely delicious. Why Bdx Blanc isn’t more popular is beyond me
Golden yellow, beautiful marzipan baked apple aromatics, surprisingly fresh and youthful, creamy texture, honeyed, zingy lemon, apricot, toasted nuts, butterscotch. Absolutely delicious. Why Bdx Blanc isn’t more popular is beyond me
Aug 4th, 2019
Golden yellow in color. The nose is going a little rich / oxidative. Really tasting the semillon today. Wish I got to this about 3 years ago but still a pretty nice example. Lots of weight not as much freshness as the 07s used to have. Nonetheless I would drink another bottle if it was in front of me
Golden yellow in color. The nose is going a little rich / oxidative. Really tasting the semillon today. Wish I got to this about 3 years ago but still a pretty nice example. Lots of weight not as much freshness as the 07s used to have. Nonetheless I would drink another bottle if it was in front of me
Apr 2nd, 2019
Holy creamy honeyed semillon ! This lacks the acid I was seeking but still has incredible complexity ... pungent aromas of noble rot with ginger and saffron. Oily texture.
Holy creamy honeyed semillon ! This lacks the acid I was seeking but still has incredible complexity ... pungent aromas of noble rot with ginger and saffron. Oily texture.
Dec 31st, 2018