Chateau Malartic Lagraviere 2014

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2014 Malartic-Lagravière is a gorgeous wine, but it is also flamboyant and exotic, especially in its flavor profile. Super-ripe red cherry and plum make a strong first impression. Sweet floral and spice notes, along with ripe, silky tannins, add to the wine's sensuality. A rich, powerful wine with soft contours and striking depth, the 2014 is a real beauty. It will be even more compelling once the new oak tannins soften a bit further. The blend is 52 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 40 % Merlot, 5 % Cabernet Franc and 3 % Petit Verdot. Tasted two times."

DECANTER: "There's an austerity here but also a clear, striking quality to the fruit. It's a good wine, almost ready to drink, and yet it's holding back a few tricks. It doesn't have the generosity of '15 - you can feel the tannins pulling in a little harder on the finish, not as smile-inducing - and yet this is extremely well made, carefully extracted and well delivered. 5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend."

JAMES SUCKLING: "So perfumed with a freshness and beauty that is amazing. Blackberries, black cherries and violets. Full-bodied yet so polished and velvety. Gorgeous finish. A beauty. Best ever in bottle from here? Drink in 2020."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Very dark blackish crimson. Rich, buttery nose. Very broad and smooth on the nose but still pretty dry tannins. Wait! But this tastes like one of the more flattering wines of this appellation."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A terrific success in the vintage, the 2014 Chateau Malartic-Lagraviere is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 70% new oak. Hitting 13.5% natural alcohol, it offers a vibrant ruby/purple color as well as vibrant aromatics of cherries, mulberries, red plums, exotic flowers, and lead pencil shavings. Medium-bodied and beautifully polished and elegant, with solid acidity, it’s a juicy, vibrant, fresh 2014 that’s going to drink nicely for 15-20 years."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "With a round, silky, texture, the wine shows plenty of smoke, licorice, dark chocolate, espresso bean and ripe, juicy, plums. There is depth of flavor and fruit in the finish that carries through. The wine was made from a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot."

THE WINEADVOCATE: "The 2014 Malartic-Lagraviere had quite a high-toned, upfront bouquet with kirsch, crushed strawberry, iodine and iris scents that do not hold back. The palate is rounded on the entry with supple tannin, possesses slightly lower acidity than its peers yet remains balanced. There is impressive depth to this Malartic-Lagravière with a subtle white pepper/sage note towards the finish. Though it will be overshadowed by the 2015, this is a well-crafted Pessac-Léognan with the chutzpah that it showed in barrel."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Dichtes, eng gegliedertes Bouquet, Himbeerstauden, Wildkirschen, etwas Mokka und Tabak. Während viele der Konkurrenten eher kühl und reserviert wirken, ist hier das Nasenbild spontan ansprechend. Feinstoffiger Gaumen, wirkt dabei im Extrakt etwas dropsig (Red Currant), die Tannine, sind – verbunen mit der Säure – leicht aufrauend und noch mehlig. Die Anlagen sind hier aber mehr als gut. Auf Niveau seines eigenen 1999ers und der macht heute einen Riesenspass."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Tight tannins mask the ripe fruit in a wine that is set for long-term aging, so there is a dry core that dominates at the moment. But not for long: the bold black fruits are insistent and are going to be delicious. This is a structured wine that will be ready in 2026."

WINESPECTATOR: "Very solid, with a core of dark plum, blackberry and fig preserve notes held in check by tarry grip. Ample singed apple wood and cocoa elements form the frame. Give this time to meld fully. Best from 2019 through 2026. 9,167 cases made."