Chateau Malescot Saint Exupery 2017

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of blueberries and stone with some dried-flower notes. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, silky tannins and a medium finish. Linear and refined with a very fine line of tannins running through it. Better after 2023."

WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Dark fruit, lush, opulent, rich textures, layers of deep, ripe sweet fruits, ample concentration, length and a long, fruit-filled finish. What's not to like? Give it some time for the oak to integrate. This will be best after 2027."

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2017 Malescot Saint Exupéry has really come together nicely over the course of its élevage. In this vintage, Malescot is a bit more fruity and less structured than it has been. Cedar, licorice, dried herbs, menthol and scorched earth notes give the 2017 a distinctly savory feel to match its somber, virile personality. The 2017 is a wine that keeps getting better each time I taste it, and that makes me very hopeful for the future; it will be interesting to see what happens here with aging, and, specifically, if a bit more structure emerges. This is a wine of great personality and character."

WINEADVOCATE: "The 2017 Malescot St. Exupery is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot aged in French oak, 70% new. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it is redolent of warm red and black currants, kirsch and raspberry pie on the nose with floral wafts, tobacco and wild sage in the background plus a hint of pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, it is packed with expressive red and black fruits and is velvety and refreshing, finishing long."

DECANTER: "Starts out strongly, attractive high fruit aromatics on the nose, acidity a touch sharp but they do a great job of balancing it with plush well-expressed plum and cassis fruit, carefully placed with elegance and poise. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040"

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, zart nach Dörrobst, ein Hauch von Feigen, schwarze Beerenfrucht, feine Kräuterwürze, kandierte Orangenzesten. Saftig, elegant, angenehme Stoffigkeit, integrierte, tragende Tannine, elegant und anhaftend, mineralischer Nachhall, gutes Reifepotenzial, ein Wein der aufzeigt, was möglich war."

WINESPECTATOR: "The plum and cassis notes are pure and fresh, carried by a polished structure, while aromatic black tea, violet, bergamot and alder elements hang in the background. Very stylish and nicely rendered for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2033."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "91–93. Barrel Sample. This is a fruit-driven wine, packed with a strong black-currant character and bright acidity. The tannins are light, though they lend ample structure for medium-term aging. It is more about freshness and attractive fruit. Drink from 2023."

DUNNUCK: "A ripe, fleshy wine, with lots of ripe blackberry and black raspberry notes, the 2017 Chateau Malescot Saint-Exupery comes from a site in the heart of Margaux and 45-year-old vines planted in deep, gravelly soils. Nicely textured and medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has ripe tannins and a great finish. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot brought up in 70% new oak, drink this juicy, fresh yet nicely textured wine over the coming 15-20 years. Michel Rolland also consults here, and this estate consistently produces outstanding wines."