2020 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2020 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc has a light but fresh bouquet with Anjou pear, Granny Smiths and light tertiary scents that unfold in the glass. The palate is well balanced with beautifully integrated oak and very well-judged acidity. It’s creamy but not overly so, with a persistent and very classy finish. This is a top-notch dry white Bordeaux. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Straight-up classic notes of honeyed pineapple, chalky minerality, minty herbs, and spicy nuances emerge from the 2020 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc, a deep, richly textured, medium to full-bodied white with nicely integrated acidity, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. It's one of the finest whites I've tasted from this château and is well worth seeking out. I like it today, yet it should have 10-12 years or more of prime drinking as well.
Like before, the 2020 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc needs time to open up, eventually revealing scents of Granny Smiths, beeswax, honeysuckle and a touch of persimmon. The palate is taut and fresh, a killer line of acidity keeping everything very tensile and on edge, with real mineralité towards the slightly reduced finish. This is bursting with energy that will make it difficult to resist in its youth…but try. Superb.
About the producer
One of few estates classified for both red and white wine production, Malartic-Lagravière was renovated entirely after the Bonnie family purchased it in 1996. They also expanded the property to its current 53 hectares.