Château Malartic-Lagravière

Domaine de Lagravière, recognized since time immemorial for its excellent terroir, was purchased at the end of the eighteenth century by the family of Count Hippolyte de Maurès de Malartic. Serving the armies of the Kings of France, this Admiral fought against the English on the many seas of the world, showing special bravery in 1756 during the battle of Quebec.  The estate was then bought in 1850 by Madame Arnaud Ricard, who added the name Malartic to that of Lagravière as a tribute to the former owners.  After land reorganization and the acquisition of some small plots, the estate took on the form which it was to keep until the 1950s.  The Marly family were the last of the Ricard ancestry to run the Château. Of particular note, Jacques Marly was estate manager from 1947 to 1990.  Having enjoyed an excellent reputation from the beginning of the nineteenth century, Château Malartic-Lagravière was one of only six properties in Bordeaux to enter the 1953 Graves classification for both its red and white wines.  At the end of 1996, the Château entered a new era with the arrival of the Bonnie family.

Overview: This is the second wine of Château Malartic-Lagravière

Production Area: 53 hectares

Terroir: Dry gravel and clay; subsoil of limestone with veins of clay

Grape Varietals: 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot (percentages change depending on the vintage)

Plantation Density: 10,000 vines/hectare

Training System: Double guyot

Yield: 43 hl/ha

Viticulture: Sustainable

Harvest: Manual

Vinification: In small, truncated, thermo-regulated wooden and stainless steel tanks for 28-30 days.

Aging: Traditionally done in French oak barrels for 15 months

Consultant: Michel Rolland

Tasting Notes: Beautiful, deep red color with glints of violet.  Fine intensity on the nose, pleasantly complex, with red fruit, floral, smoky, toasted, and mineral notes.  On the palate, it is mellow, smooth, and well-rounded with good volume. The same aromatic profile develops as in the nose, with fruity, toasted, smoky, slightly minerally notes.  Plump tannins with good length and pleasant complexity. A charming, enjoyable wine that offers a good representation of the appellation and the terroir.

Overview: Le Comte de Malartic is another second wine of Château Malartic-Lagravière.

Appellation: Pessac-Léognan

Owner: Bonnie Family

Consulting Oenologist: Eric Boissenot

Production Area: 71 hectares (175 acres), 62 hectares of which are planted with red.

Soil: Quartenary Günzian well-drained gravels and clay gravels on shelly limestone and clay subsoil.

Planted Grape Varieties: 56% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Cabernet-Franc, 2% Petit Verdot

Plant Density: 10,000 plants/ha

Average Age of the Vines: 28 years old

Pruning Method: Double Guyot

Viticulture: Agroecology, plant cover, eco-pasture, minimal ploughing with horses. Sustainable farming, High Environmental Value certification 3 Opt A, ISO 14001 (EMS).

Harvest: Manual harvest by intra-plot passes, double sorting tables

Vinification: Double cap, thermoregulated stainless steel and oak vats. Vatting period lasts 21 to 23 days.

Aging: Early blending, traditional on fine lees in French oak barrels for about 15 months (30% new oak)