Winemaker Notes
The Malescot 2021 stands out as a classic, tender and precise. It expresses very well the terroirs and the nuances of the cepages. Delicious, full of vivacity, the Malecot 2021 shares its balance and vitality with us.
Blend: 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Very floral with black currant and black cherry aromas with hints of lavender. Floral. Medium-bodied with firm and silky tannins that show beautiful length and polish. Goes on for a long time for the vintage. Classy.
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Vinous
The 2021 Malescot St. Exupéry is beautiful—a wine that isn't trying to be too much in this challenging vintage. Floral aromatics and silky tannins give this mid-weight edition of Malescot quite a bit of charm. All the elements are so nicely balanced. Crushed flowers, dark red/purplish fruit, mint, spice and a dash of orange peel linger. This is nicely done. –Antonio Galloni
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 Malescot St. Exupery has turned out nicely in its fleshy, flamboyant style, bursting with aromas of dark berries, cherries and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, with supple tannins and a lively core of fruit, it's a strong effort.
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Decanter
Lots of fruit on the nose - notes of floral perfume and concentration as well as green notes. A calm wine, not too high acidity compared to some so it feels as if it's missing some life and verve, with quite austere, grainy tannins that grip and hold on. Tight and quite restrained for the moment with blackcurrants, plum and cherry accents. It doesn't feel too pushed but needs time to come together a bit more. Shows promise.
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2021 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry is rock-solid in the vintage, with a plump, medium-bodied, nicely textured style. Red and blue fruits, tobacco, spice, and some leafy herb notes all define the aromatics, and it has enough concentration and class to evolve for 10-12 years, if not longer. The blend is 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged 12-14 months in barrel.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Silky, seductive and polished are the words that characterize the best wines from Margaux, the most inland appellation of the Médoc on the Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Margaux’s gravel soils are the thinnest of the Médoc, making them most penetrable by vine roots—some reaching down over 23 feet for water. The best sites are said to be on gentle outcrops, or croupes, where more gravel facilitates good drainage.
The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification but it is nonetheless important in regards to history of the area. In 1855 the finest chateaux were deemed on the basis of reputation and trading price—at that time. In 1855, Chateau Margaux achieved first growth status, yet it has been Chateau Palmer (officially third growth from the 1855 classification) that has consistently outperformed others throughout the 20th century.
Chateau Margaux in top vintages is capable of producing red Cabernet Sauvignon based wines described as pure, intense, spell-binding, refined and profound with flavors and aromas of black currant, violets, roses, orange peel, black tea and incense.
Other top producers worthy of noting include Chateau Rauzan-Ségla, Lascombes, Brane-Cantenac, and d’Issan, among others.
The best wines of Margaux combine a deep ruby color with a polished structure, concentration and an unrivaled elegance.