Wine Words & Video Tape

Wine, Words and Videotape

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Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry

Address: 33460 Margaux

Telephone: +33 (0) 5 57 88 97 20

E-mail: jeanluczuger@malescot.com

Website: www.malescot.com

Classified fourth growth in 1855 Malescot Saint-Exupéry. It combines the power and concentration of the best wines but at its best also manages to maintain that supple, harmonious style and fragrance that characterizes this appellation. That said while years like 2009 look terrific, some other recent vintages [2011, 2013] have felt over-extracted to me [a problem for certain wines in the appellation occassionally]. Owned by the Zuger family since 1955 the quality [and price] has certainly lept in recent years.  Second wine Dame de Malescot. 

Vineyard/Soil: 23.4 hectares of which 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Soil gravel overlaying chalk or marl which slopes towards the Gironde. Fruit picked into trays to prevent crushing.

Winemaking/Elevage: Temperature controlled and matured in 100% new oak and undergoes malolatic in barrel depending on the vintage. Aged on lees with stirring. 14-16 months barrel ageing before being racked without fining or filtration.

  • 2015 Deep and saturated look; deep and dark; fat nose; creamy cassis and sublimated fruits; concentrated and sublimated fruit tones; creamy style if a little fatiguing; chewy tannins on the finish. Stylistically very much at one end of the spectrum. If you enjoy wines with an intensely sublimated style, this is for you. Be interested to see this after elévage. As I say, bit fatiguing currently even of the depth is impressive. Drink 2020-2033. 90-92.
  • 2014 Deep and saturated colour; legs; very ripe notes to the aromatics; some chalk; some fig tones; some spice and fruit cake notes; lots of depth and matter on the palate; substantial; creamy black fruits and some perfume here; freshness on the palate and some grip; lots of extract, matter and length. [58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot]. Drink 2020-2030. Tasted 31 March, 2015 at UGC. 90-92
  • 2013 Mid depth; some marizpan notes; almost a degree of fatness; dry and very extracted palate; quite sappy and very puckering on the finish. Very chewy indeed. Not looking good in 2013 at this stage. Over-extracted for the vintage. [62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot]. Tasted UGCB April 2014. Drink 2017-2025. 83-85?
  • 2012 Deep and saturated; very lush; a boat load of ripe, lush fruit; saturated nose with sublimated fruit tones; violets, black cherry; more purity here; lots of lush fruit on the palate; some stalky cab too; lovely fruit here. Big and with a chewy finish. Overall more impressive than before. 91-93+ Tasted UGC April 11, 2013. [Earlier note] Deep and saturated; violets, cassis and coffee; very, very lush and sublimated style; lots of oak on the palate but lots of lush fruit. Feels like it fades a tad on the palate and lacks grip? 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc 13.2 degrees. 89-91? Tasted UGC Tuesday April 9, 2013. Drink 2018-2028
  • 2011 Deep and saturated look; ripe, lifted, the same as Marquis de Terme; more jammy note; red fruits, thick on the nose; will appeal to some; palate creamy [MLF in barrel?], ripe red fruits, lots of guts and saturated with flavour – very worked. 2009 managed all this but with great violet fruit. This feels simply overdone. 87-89. 2020-2030
  • 2010 Deep and saturated; more fragrant than Lascombes; violet perfume plus some marzipan; ripeness; palate very extracted and tannic; think again this is overdone. Mouthpuckering at present and monolithic. Needs to settle? Really unsure here. This estate produced a beauty in 2009, but not 2010.  If settles 88-90?/100 maybe more [there is a lot of fruit] but will it? [57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc 5% Petit Verdot, alc 14%] Tasted 5 April 2011 at UGC. [Second tasting] Deep and dense; tar and ripeness on the nose; some marzipan hints; strawberry too; quite thick; sweet entry, quite fat seemingly but also tannins here very dry. Dry finish. Very tannic and dry. Blimey this wine needs to settle. If it does 86-88?/100 Tasted 7 April 2011 at UGC. Drink 2020-2030+?
  • 2009 Very deep, inky; colour very tight to the rim; soft creamy and very attractive nose; mulberry, plums and some jam; palate sweet and ripe; lots of fruit here; some mocha and chocolate too; quite a lot of espresso on the finish. Tannins round and ripe – and lots of them lurking there. This is excellent and sexy. 92+/100 [Second] Deep and dark again; more spot on here;  violets, charm obvious concentration but balance; very fresh here, very fine;  coffee and mocha notes;  excellent nose;  just how Margaux should be. Very nice palate; yes extraction but more control. Lovely 94+/100 Tasted 30th March and 1st April 2010. Drink now – 2030+
  • 2007 Mid red; some ripe notes with some tar and ripeness; quite tannic but fruit appears to be sufficient. Bit awkward at this stage. 86?/100 Drink 2015-2020

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