Winemaker Notes
Blend: 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Plenty of blackcurrant and blueberry character here with cedar and sandalwood undertones that give such interest. Medium- to full-bodied, this has integrated tannins and a long and linear finish. Racy at the end. Classy. Give this three or four years to slightly soften, but it’s already a joy to taste.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Spicy red and black currants, leafy tobacco, spicy wood, loamy earth, and some sappy floral notes emerge from the 2022 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry, an incredibly complex, pure, elegant 2022 that has polished tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. Based on 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot
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Wine Spectator
A flat-out stunner, with waves of blackberry, black currant and plum that tumble through like crumpled velvet, while the vintage's telltale iris/violet gilding weaves throughout. There's a long tug of warm humus and a deftly inlaid alder smoke accent as well. Seriously long, with the fruit providing a steady grip. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
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Decanter
Intensely perfumed and fragrant on the nose, supple and succulent, really quite juicy and highly acidic with both a dark blackcurrant and red cherry juiciness, tannins are nicely present, filling but with a great texture and this has a nice overall brightness and vibrancy that some don't have. I really like this, feels elegant and nicely detailed, soft, really not trying too hard. Will be for easier drinking than some but nice.
Barrel Sample: 94 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aromas of sweet blackberries, espresso roast, petals and toasty oak introduce the 2022 Malescot St. Exupery, a medium to full-bodied, rich but lively wine with a ripe core of jammy fruit, supple tannins and a slightly evolved finish.
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.