2024, Château Malartic-Lagraviéres Rouge, PESSAC-LÉOGNAN, Grand Cru ClasséJean Jacques Bonnie owner with his sister Vronique. Bordeaux Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot. A chteau that has been riding a wave of success in recent years, producing excellent consistency, and here they deliver a concentrated shot of pureed damson fruit, a lovely addition in a vintage where things tend to be on the slim side. Juicy, textured, freshly cut herbs and gun smoke layered through black fruits. One of the successes of the

A fine mid purple with lighter rim

Clay limestone

situated just below the Clos des Ruchottes of Rousseau and near the Mazis of Faiveley

though of course these days maturity is more complete and selection even more rigorous than was the case two decades ago

plus touches of hoisin

Made from the vineyards that Ducru-Beaucaillou owns in the Haut-Medoc

Les Champs Libres hits it out of the park in 2021

with density

with hints of orange pith

fresh finish (for drinking 2027-2032+)

Fine-grained tannins come on late

ripened by the light rather than the heat