Chateau Malescote St Exupery 2007

Bright, dark, rubied colour, this bottle has lots of interesting dry extract (rose, violets, lavender, with quality freshness (strawberries fruit) and fruit precision(blackcurrant, pastilles). Well-structured and reasonably complex, this 2007 starts with smoky cassis and new oak (mocha coffee and vanilla), good purity of fruit (ripe red, dark to mix), a bright core and well-worked tannins. With good length as a Cru, this wine is easy without losing the intensity; palate tension is balanced, and it drinks very fine for all occasions. However, if you are looking for a super complex Margaux, this 2007Malescote St Exupery may not be for you.

For vintage 2007, harvest picked late between 9 and 20 October. So there are always some pastille tones/shades to the fruit. Vinification/ Maturation Temperature is controlled and matured in 100% new oak; hence the wine is still bold and powerful despite its bottle age. It undergoes malolactic in the barrel depending on the vintage. Aged on lees with stirring, it gives some adequate intensity and complexities. 13-14 months barrel ageing before being racked without fining or filtration. ABV is just right at 13.5%, so this wine is fulled-bodied. The composition creates better complexity over time: 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot. Soil gravel overlying chalk or marl slopes towards the Gironde. Fruit is picked into trays to prevent crushing. The score is GG92Gilbert & Gaillard, who writes, 'Deep colour. The nose is a mixture of ripe blackcurrant and sweet spice. The palate is pleasantly open to begin but quickly reveals moderately firm tannins. Great balance and ageing potential(edited).'