2010 Malartic-Lagravière, Pessac-Léognan (Pre-Arrival)

SKU #1067112 95 points James Suckling

 Impressive nose with leather, dark polished fruit and flowers. Wonderful mouthfeel with soft silky tannins and beautiful texture. Really well put together. Powerful and rich with loads of fruit and ripe tannins. Very ripe. Try in 2016.  (2/ 2013)

92-94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

 A beautiful wine from proprietor Alexandre Bonnie’s 115-acre vineyard, this blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot hit 14% natural alcohol. The Cabernet Sauvignon harvest was late, ending on October 18. The wine’s dense purple color is followed by aromas of vanillin, smoked herbs, tobacco leaf, black currants and blackberries. This rich, elegant Pessac-Leognan is loaded with potential. It should drink well in 3-4 years and evolve for 20-25.  (5/ 2011)

92-94 points Wine Enthusiast

 With red berry fruits, a counterpoint of dry tannins, this shows a style that is firm, tough on one side, and fruity and fresh on the other. The wine has the promise of power, richness when the elements integrate.  (6/ 2011)

93 points Wine Spectator

 Shows a hefty dose of toast, but remains polished and well-embedded in a core of crushed plum, steeped blackberry and cherry compote flavors. The long finish picks up briary energy, with anise and violet notes checking in. Best from 2016 through 2028.  (3/ 2013)

Jancis Robinson

 (Lots of Cab Franc in the blend. My original tasting note was based on a bottle in less than perfect condition (at the UGC London tasting) so this note and score, taken on later occasion, replaces the earlier one.) Deep, dark crimson. Restrained dark fruit with a touch of graphite. Firm, compact tannins filled out by rich yet zesty fresh fruit, no jamminess or excess sweetness here. Rich, dry finish. Full bodied, with the alcohol in evidence but not intrusive. Chewy, satisfying finish with a lingering freshness. Drink 2018-2028.  (11/ 2012)

K&L Notes

45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot.

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By: Ralph Sands |  K&L Staff Member  |  Review Date: 2/5/2013  | Send Email
Pure, bright and zesty!

By: Jeff Garneau |  K&L Staff Member  |  Review Date: 2/4/2013  | Send Email
This property seems on a clear upward trend with success following success. The 2010 vintage is a worthy heir to the 2005 and the 2009. Lovely red and black fruits, ripe and sweet. A well-balanced, structured wine with firm tannins.

By: Steve Greer |  K&L Staff Member  |  Review Date: 2/4/2013  | Send Email
Oak dominates this wine's nose. Full of dark fruit and spice.

By: Clyde Beffa Jr. |  K&L Staff Member  |  Review Date: 2/4/2013  | Send Email
* At UGC: More modern in style, with toasted oak aromas. Smoky, with some meaty flavors. At Joanne: Semi-new wave.

Additional Information:

Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.
Country:

France

- When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of quality and diversity. And while many of its Region, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne most obviously, produce wine as rare, as sought-after and nearly as expensive as gold, there are just as many obscurities and values to be had from little known appellations throughout the country. To learn everything there is to know about French wine would take a lifetime. To understand and appreciate French wine, one only has to begin tasting them. Click for a list of bestselling items from all of France.
Sub-Region:

Bordeaux

- View our bestselling Bordeaux.
Specific Appellation:

Pessac-Leognan/Graves

- Graves is the large red and white wine region located to the southeast of the city of Bordeaux along the Garonne River. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the red wines from the area, while the whites are mixtures of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. The most important area within the Graves is the village of Pessac-Leognan. Most of the great chateaux, including Haut Brion, a premier cru and the only wine outside of the Medoc to be included in the 1855 Classification, are located in this small appellation. Graves derives its name from the rocky, stony terrain of the region. Many people believe that the stony soil radiates the day's heat at night and thus makes the grapes ripen earlier than the other regions in Bordeaux.