Château Malartic-Lagravière Pessac-Léognan Rouge 2016
- we96
Category | Red Wine |
Varietals | |
Brand | Château Malartic-Lagravière |
Origin | France, Bordeaux, Pessac-Léognan |
Alcohol/vol | 13.5% |
Other vintages
Located at the gates of Bordeaux, Château Malartic-Lagravière is located on the oldest winegrowing terroir in the region. The estate, which resides on the most beautiful hillside of Graves, became a Classified Growth in the 1959 Classification of Graves… only one of 16 chateaux in the region to receive the honor and one of only six to be classified for both their reds and whites.
Domaine de Lagravière was purchased in 1803 by Pierre de Malartic and was renamed to Malartic-Lagravière in the 1850s after Pierre’s uncle, a French colonial governor and Navy admiral, which is signified by the boat in their logo. In 1996, the property was acquired by Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle Bonnie, who invested nearly $20M to renovate and modernize the estate. From vineyard replanting and expansion to meticulously renovating the château, the Bonnies spared no expense. Today, the Château is managed by Alfred-Alexandre and Michèle’s daughter Véronique and son Jean-Jacques and his wife Séverine. The property consists of 73 hectares of vines in soils composed of fine gravel, shell limestone and clay, planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot for their reds and Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon for their whites. The vineyards are tended with a broad agro-ecological philosophy with sustainability being a key focus since 1997 (HVE certification was earned in 2015).
Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot finished with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Dark purple with garnet reflections, a mouthwatering bouquet of red/blue berry and stone fruits mingle with notes of licorice, incense and crushed stone. Medium– to full-bodied, this wine showcases incredible texture and concentration, while also exhibiting elegant structure. Wild blueberries and cassis intertwine with ripe plum and black cherry, swaddled by velvety tannins and a lively acidity toward a supple, complex finish.
Wine Enthusiast
- we96
The Bonnie family's estate has produced a richly structured wine, full of the ripe tannins indicative of the vintage. To balance the structure, powerful flavors of black currant and dark berries give ripeness. It is a wine to age; drink after 2026.