France

Ch. Malescasse

Chateau Malescasse Haut-Medoc

Bordeaux

Haut-Médoc

Enjoyable, well handled, sappy dark fruits, good qulaity overall, subdued and in the character of the vintage, but with Médoc typicty. An enjoyable early to medium term drinker.

Inside Bordeaux

The 2023 Malescasse is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of shaking to wake up scents of ripe strawberries, raspberry leaves, and fresh redcurrants with hints of rosemary and lavender. The medium-bodied palate has a good core of red berry flavors with a firm, lightly chewy texture and savory finish. The blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Dark and brooding on the opening, then lifts to be light on its feet through the palate, this has really judged the vintage well, plenty of pencil lead, spiced cumin and black pepper, juicy black fruits, good intensity and frame. Owner Philippe Austruy, 35hl/h. yield, 33% new oak. A rare two point upscore from En Primeur (when I suggested it was one to watch), and a buy.

The 2020 Malescasse is deep garnet-purple in color. It bursts with notes of wild blueberries, Morello cherries, and cassis, plus hints of dried herbs and black olives. The medium-bodied palate is filled with expressive black berries and grainy tannins, finishing with an herbal lift.

Dense damson and black cherry fruits, smooth, deft, silky, this is excellent, almost Pessac-like in its silky confidence but with plenty of Médoc tannic frame. There has been extensive restructuring at Malescasse of over the past decade, including replanting of 15h of vines, and this is one of the best examples that I can remember tasting at this stage. Philippe Austruy owned (also of Château Peyrosolle in Provence, plus estates in Tuscany and Portugal). A yield of 23hl/ha, 33% new oak.

Located just outside of St Julien, you get plenty of Haut-Médoc typicity, with crushed mint, flint and pencil lead, still young but with plenty of cassis, bilberry and tobacco notes adding layers and complexity. A low 23hl/h after a dry summer so not the most typical vintage, and one that can be drunk a little earlier than usual, 33% new oak.

Fyldig mørk frukt. Solbær, plommer og tre. Bløte tanniner. All-round bra vin. Kan lagres lenger også.

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Ch. Malescasse
Vintages	2021
Country	France, Bordeaux, Haut-Médoc
Bottle	75 cl

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Sugar	g/l

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