2016 Malescot-St-Exupéry, Margaux

“A stunning red with currants, blackberries, roses and violets. Medium to full body, ultra-fine tannins and polish and finesse to the powerful tannins. A real stunner.” (02/2019)

“The ruby/plum-colored 2016 Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry comes from vines in the heart of the Margaux appellation and is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It’s a total rock star of wine and has fabulous notes of crème de cassis, barbecue smoke, graphite, and sandalwood that build beautifully with time in the glass. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated, layered, and seamless, it’s incredibly impressive and I’d wager up with the finest vintages ever from this estate. Give it a few years and enjoy over the following 20-25. Bravo!” (02/2019)

“Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Malescot St. Exupery sings of cassis, fragrant earth, tobacco and lilacs with a compelling waft of mocha. Medium to full-bodied and strutting loads of expressive fruit layers at this youthful stage, it's framed by ripe, grainy tannins and oodles freshness, finishing with great length and depth. (LPB)” (11/2018)

“The 2016 Malescot Saint Exupéry is fabulous. Powerful and explosive on the palate, the 2016 offers serious intensity, but it also appears to be holding back quite a bit of its potential. Moreover, what impresses me most is that in 2016, intensity is delivered more with finesse than with the brutish power that is such a signature of Malescot. Deep and resonant, but also remarkably polished, the 2016 Malescot is a winner. Hints of iron, smoke, cedar, tobacco and scorched earth add nuance, but it is the wine's sense of poise that is most remarkable. I loved it. (AG)” (01/2019)

“An old favourite of mine – the 1995 vintage is drinking very well at the moment – this estate has put in a good performance in 2016. The aromatics are dark, rich, yet open and poised, suggesting harmony, with grained black plum and cherry fruit intertwined with a little perfumed violet. The palate is open and similarly accessible, feeling a touch loose, with freshness and a weight of peppery tannin. A rather relaxed style, showing some gently polished fruit, with grained undercurrents, a rather substantial tannic wrapping, and fresh acidity. This particular sample feels a little disjointed, like a collection of components rather than a complete and integrated whole, nevertheless the fruit profile is nicely defined, even if I do sense it flirting with sur-maturité. It certainly has grip and a chewy substance to it in the end. It will be interesting to see how this evolves.” (04/2017)

“This estate is really improving. The wine in this vintage is full of fragrant fruit, with the tannins making a fine backdrop to the juiciness. It's going to be a fine medium-term wine. (RV)” (04/2017)

“This has forward oak edging and attractively smoky fireside notes of ash and grilled sarments. The tannins are monolithic at this stage, and there's a lot to be impressed about in this wine, although it has closed down pretty severely, emphasising austerity rather than seduction. There's no question that all the elements for ageing are present and correct - it's a confident expression of the vintage and one with huge potential. (JA)” (10/2018)

“This opens slowly, showing a slight woodsy bent, with alder and mesquite notes leading off, but as it does the core of red currant, blackberry and plum fruit flavor fleshes out nicely, soaking up the woodsy element while adding in light savory detail and black tea and violet notes. A long mineral echo chimes through the finish. (JM)” (03/2019)