critic reviews
The 2021 Malartic Lagraviere has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It opens with slightly reduced notes of tar and rubber, before giving way to a core of blackberries and boysenberries, plus a touch of sauteed herbs. The medium-bodied palate has a sturdy frame of chewy tannins and just enough freshness to support the muscular fruit, finishing earthy.
Plentiful tanins carefully holding the fruit in place, showing layers of aniseed, feenel, rosemarary and sage. Plenty of black fruits, it is young and subdued with some angular tannins at this point, less voluptuous than in recent vintages but this is an estate that takes an quality approach to everything, and this should age well. One point upscore, tasted twice. 42.25hl/h yield, Eric Boissenot consultant. Harvest September 29 to October 19. 65% new oak.
The 2021 Malartic Lagravière, which has a little more Cabernet Sauvignon than usual, has an attractive bouquet—not amazingly intense, yet delineated with predominantly black fruit, black olive and light estuarine scents. It feels focused, though without the frills. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of orange rind on the entry. Finely integrated oak here lends this Pessac-Léognan an appealing silky texture, and it fans out gracefully toward the finish. This feels like it has evolved nicely during its barrel maturation, and it should drink well for 20 to 25 years.
A blend of fully 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the 2021 Malartic Lagraviere offers up aromas of sweet berries, plums, burning embers and warm spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, ample and powdery palate that's impressively concentrated, refined and elegant. It's a fine effort from an estate on the rise.