2016 Château Malartic-Lagraviere Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2016 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc has an intense bouquet of orange blossom, quince and light yellow flower aromas that burst from the glass. The palate is well balanced with a lightly spiced entry and good weight and tension, but it tightens up toward a saline, seaweed-influenced finish that is bitter and penetrating. On its own, it feels a little aggressive; however, with bottle age and partnered with food, this will drink supremely well. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
A terrific white that’s up with the top efforts in the vintage, the 2016 Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc comes from a 7-hectare vineyard in the Graves region and is 85% Sauvignon and 15% Sémillon raised in 55% new barrels. It has terrific freshness and purity as well as medium body, a concentrated, layered, texture, perfumed notes of lemon curd, white grapefruits, and flowers, and a distinct sense of minerality. The whites in the vintage have a good mix of purity and richness, and this is a great example. It’s going to benefit from a year or two and drink well for at least a decade. Tasted twice, count me in as a fan.
The 2016 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc has a clean, precise bouquet that evokes a cold northern sea, this being one of the most saline-influenced of the Pessac whites. The palate is well balanced, with orange zest and marmalade notes spicing up the entry, and superb weight in the mouth. The finish feels extremely long. Outstanding.
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.