2017 Château Malescot-St-Exupéry

Description

94    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.” (1/2020)

93+   Neal Martin for Vinous
“The 2017 Malescot St. Exupéry was cropped at 38hl/ha and aged in 70% new oak for 13 to 15 months. This has a lovely plushness and purity on the nose with copious dark cherries, blueberry and violet aromas that blossom in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity, a subtle marine influence here with a precise and persistent finish. This is one of the best Margaux wines in 2017 and comes highly recommended. You know, this might improve further with bottle age.” (2/2020)

93+   Antonio Galloni for Vinous
“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.” (3/2020)

93    Jane Anson for 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.” (11/2019)

93    Lisa Perrotti-Brown for Wine Advocate
“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.” (3/2020)