Mature Margaux Magic ... irresistibly perfumed!

 

What better way to start off a year of fabulous claret offers, than with the captivating scents of 20-, 15- and 10-year old classic Margaux?

 

To add to this unique appeal, we feature today the three top vintages over the past 20+ years from a single, renowned Chateau.

 

I pulled a cork on a bottle of their ‘05 over Christmas:  Scents to die for.  Lithe, elegant, layers.   Subtle, melded tannins, lifted acids, textured layers with gorgeous fruits,  long, complex and complete.  In a word, superb!

 

 

 

 

CHATEAU MALESCOT ST EXUPERY 3ème Grand Cru Classé

 

In 1697, Louise Escousses sold the property to Master Simon Malescot, adviser to the French monarch Louis XIV for the Bordeaux Parliament. He gave his name to the property.  On 5 February 1827, Count Jean-Baptiste de Saint-Exupéry, who was the great-grandfather of the French aviator and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, acquired Château Malescot. He decided to enrich the property’s name by adding his own. Jean-Baptiste lived a life beyond his means, and his widow had to sell the property by auction in 1853.  The property was classified as a third growth in the 1855 classification.  In 1870, Messrs. Fourcade and Boissac gave Malescot a chateau worthy of the wine’s rank with a winery and cellars that were a model for the other Medoc properties. Nevertheless, they had to come to terms with having to sell it in 1901.  An uncertain period engendered by a series of successive owners then followed the previous stability.  On 1 June 1955, Paul and Roger Zuger acquired the estate, when it had no more than 7 hectares. Today the property consists of 28 hectares. Three generations of the Zuger family have worked in turn to put the estate back on track and restore its reputation. In 1994 Jean- Luc took over from his father Roger.  Today the property is owned by Catherine and Jean-Luc Zuger. Jean-Luc is the general manager and strives to make Malescot Saint-Exupéry one of the great names within the Margaux appellation.  Malescot is blended from four grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. They all fully express their own unique characteristics yet of course blend together perfectly.  They are grown in various parts of the vineyard, depending on the different soil structures and types. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot account for 50% and 35% respectively of the vineyard. Cabernet Franc covers 10% of the estate and Petit Verdot just 5%, yet both adding to the depth and complexity of the wine’s aromas and its density.

Wine Advocate – The Zuger family have invested heavily in the estate, and it is now one of the best-maintained and most quality-driven of the Margaux crus.

 

 

 

MARGAUX APPELLATION

 

A wine growing commune and Appellation d'origine contrôlée within Haut-Médoc in Bordeaux, centred on the village of Margaux. Its leading château is also called Margaux. The appellation contains 21 cru classé châteaux, more than any other commune in Bordeaux. As well as Margaux itself, the appellation includes the villages of Cantenac, Arsac, Sousse’s and Labarde. It lies on the left bank of the Gironde. It is the southernmost appellation in the Médoc (the haut in Haut-Médoc refers to the fact that it lies upstream), not far north of Bordeaux itself. To the east is the Landes forest. The soil is the thinnest in the Médoc, with the highest proportion of gravel. (The generally perceived opinion being that poor soil makes good wine.) The gravel provides good drainage. The forest to the west shelters the vines from Atlantic breezes. Margaux contains 1 413 hectares of vineyards, making it the second largest appellation in the Haut-Médoc (after Saint-Estèphe). The châteaux are concentrated in the village, and the vineyards are more intermingled than elsewhere. The  Cabernet Sauvignon vines ripen 7–10 days before the majority of other areas.  As with all red Bordeaux, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec may also be included in the blend (although wines will not necessarily include all five grapes). The wine is known for its perfumed fragrance. The dominant fruit flavour is blackcurrant. The wine from the southern part of the appellation (i.e. Cantenac, Arsac and Labarde) tends to be more powerful but less fragrant and leans more towards plum.

 

 

 

VINTAGES

 

2005

Jane Anson - The 2005 vintage is one of the greatest of the past 50 years.

Wine Advocate - One of, if not the, best in the past 20+ years.  May still prove to categorically be the best

DECANTER magazine - This vintage met all the conditions for a great year and has gone down as a triumph.

 

2010

Wine Spectator: Vintage 2010 - 99/100.

Wine Advocate – Margaux is outstanding. Still tannic, youthful, slow to mature.

Jancis Robinson MW - Another stellar vintage, with higher tannin and more freshness than 2009 but comparable intensity. More appealing to classical palates than the 2009s.

 

2015

Wine Spectator - Margaux is truly special in 2015.

Jancis Robinson MW – Vintage 2015 is the best since 2010.

Wine Advocate – Margaux is outstanding. Early maturing and accessible.

 

 

 

Today’s 6-pack:  Consists of two bottles each of the classic fine-wines listed below.   The 2005 has just entered its perfect drinking window where it will easily remain for a 15 + yrs.  The 2010 and 2015 are youthful, both requiring proper decanting if enjoyed now.  Or cellar for another 20 ++ years.   Please see the attached notes for full wine information.

 

 

• Chateau Malescot St Exupery  3ème Cru Classé.  Margaux 2005.

Wine Spectator - Exhibits blackberry, mineral, currant and dark chocolate. Full and velvety, with lots of fruit and chewy tannins. Long and caressing, with incredibly sweet fruit and tannins on the finish. Goes on for minutes. A thoroughly gorgeous wine. Best after 2020. 97/100       

 

• Chateau Malescot St Exupery  3ème Cru Classé.  Margaux 2010.

Cellartracker 23 - 5th bottle from a case bought en primeur. Huge Margaux nose of violets. Later sweet blackcurrant and leather. Full bodied. Then mineral and blueberry in the mouth. Tannins a little grainy this time but these will settle down again and promise a long future. Very long penetrating finish. Empty glass smells of cedar. Drinking well now and will have an extraordinarily long life. Depending on your taste drink now or in 50 years. This is a wine that will age beautifully. Glorious. Best wine I've had in some time.  96/100                     

 

• Chateau Malescot St Exupery  3ème Cru Classé.  Margaux 2015.

James Suckling 18 - Some very rich and ripe red and dark berries here make for an impressive, engaging nose that has charming violet undertones. The palate is velvety and supple, while super smooth tannins deliver a long and plush, plum-soaked finish. Great wine and already drinking well. Try from 2023++.  97/100        

 

 

Special offer terms:

 

It’s 6 cases today at  R15 700 each.  The first 2 cases can be yours for R14 950 each.  There is R750 in it, for the fast.