Château Malartic-Lagravière 1997

Characteristics and tasting tips for Château Malartic-Lagravière 1997

Tasting

Colour
Visually, this French wine displays a mature garnet-red hue. Its rim shows subtle brick-red and delicately orange highlights, reflecting its development, while a slight natural deposit may be present.

Nose
The bouquet is highly complex and dominated by alluring tertiary notes. Aromas of forest floor, leather and blond tobacco blend with smoky and mineral touches typical of its terroir. Subtle hints of sweet spices, truffle and cedar round out this mature aromatic palette.

Palate
The palate has a silky texture, carried by tannins that have fully melted and softened over time. Medium-bodied and full of finesse, this wine unfolds delicate flavours of stewed red fruit and candied plum. The long finish lingers on elegant notes of spice, forest floor and smoke.

Food and wine pairing

This red wine pairs beautifully with braised or roasted meats, such as a herb-crusted leg of lamb or confit duck breast. It also enhances poultry served with porcini or truffles, as well as delicate feathered game. For cheese, opt for aged pressed cheeses such as Comté, Salers or Beaufort.

Serving and cellaring

To separate any natural deposit, we recommend gently decanting Château Malartic-Lagravière 1997 before serving. Having reached full tertiary maturity, this wine is ready to drink now and does not require further ageing.

A rich and subtle red wine from Pessac-Léognan

The estate

Located in the heart of the Bordeaux region, Château Malartic-Lagravière has borne its current name since 1850, when Madame Arnaud Ricard gave it. Run by the Bonnie family since the end of 1996, this prestigious property covers 73 hectares. Unusually, it holds Grand Cru Classé de Graves status for both its red and white wines. The estate also stands out for its strong environmental commitment, reflected in advanced agroecological practices and demanding certifications.

The vineyard

Located in the renowned Pessac-Léognan appellation, the terroir lies on a magnificent rise of Günzian gravel over a subsoil of shelly limestone and clay seams. Sheltered by the Landes forest, the vines enjoy an ideal microclimate and excellent drainage. Viticulture follows an agroecological approach that respects biodiversity. It includes managing the soil through livestock grazing, using cover crops and keeping tillage to a minimum to preserve this unique ecosystem.

The vintage

The growing season was marked by mild weather conditions that encouraged a steady vegetative cycle. This allowed the berries to ripen early, and the harvest took place before the arrival of autumn, yielding perfectly ripe and healthy grapes.

Vinification and ageing

Produced during a period of transition for the estate, Château Malartic-Lagravière 1997 benefited from traditional expertise. After hand-harvesting and rigorous sorting, the berries were vinified in vats with precise temperature control to gently extract the fruit's substance. The wine was then aged in oak barrels for 18 to 24 months, refining its structure and adding complexity to its aromatic palette.

Grape varieties

This wine is a blend of Merlot (55%), Cabernet Sauvignon (42%), Petit Verdot (2%) and Cabernet Franc (1%).