Château Malartic-Lagravière 2011

Tasting notes and serving tips for Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc 2011

Château Malartic-Lagravière

Tasting

Color

The wine displays a pale yellow hue with crystalline, brilliant highlights.

Nose

The nose reveals lovely aromatic complexity, with notes of lime and kiwi, complemented by green apple. Aromas of white peach and apricot mingle with delicate floral nuances. Hints of exotic fruits and subtle truffled notes also emerge, enhanced by discreet smoky and toasted touches.

Palate

On the palate, the wine offers an elegant structure with a fine, lively acidity that brings freshness and energy. The palate unfolds flavors of citrus fruits, notably lemon and lime, alongside white peach and apricot. Beautiful minerality and saline notes lend the wine a refined texture and great precision. The finish is long and persistent, with a tension that attests to its aging potential.

Food and wine pairings

This Pessac-Léognan white wine pairs perfectly with seafood and shellfish, grilled fish or fish in sauce, as well as sushi and sashimi. It also matches very well with roasted poultry and white meats in a creamy sauce. For a bolder pairing, try it with a chicken tajine with preserved lemon. Fresh and goat cheeses also make excellent matches.

Serving and aging

Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc 2011 is best served at a temperature between 10 and 12°C. This wine can be enjoyed until around 2020, although some well-stored bottles may evolve favorably beyond this period.

A classified growth from Pessac-Léognan combining complexity and elegance

The estate

Château Malartic-Lagravière has belonged to the Bonnie family since 1997. The estate is now run by Jean-Jacques and Véronique Bonnie. Its vineyard spans 73 hectares, including 7 hectares dedicated to white wines. A rare classified growth for both white and red, it is one of only six Bordeaux classified growths to hold this double distinction, a major asset in the Graves. The reds, dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, pursue density and freshness, with aging on fine lees in French barrels.

The vineyard

The Château Malartic-Lagravière vineyard benefits from an exceptional terroir located on one of the finest gravel rises in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. The soils are made up of dry gravel mixed with sand and clay, resting on a clay subsoil that ensures optimal water regulation. This combination of gravel at the surface, providing excellent drainage, and clay at depth, serving as a water reservoir, creates ideal conditions for the production of outstanding white wines.

The vintage

The 2011 vintage in Bordeaux proved particularly favorable for Pessac-Léognan white wines. The climatic conditions made it possible to obtain grapes with excellent ripeness while preserving the freshness and vibrancy essential to crafting great white wines. The aromatic concentration and balance of the berries provided a remarkable qualitative foundation for this vintage.

Winemaking and aging

The Château Malartic-Lagravière Blanc 2011 harvest was carried out by hand, allowing for rigorous grape selection. Vinification took place in French oak barrels, with 50% new oak and 50% one-wine barrels. The wine was then aged on fine lees for 10 to 12 months, a technique that helped develop its aromatic complexity and silky texture.

Grape varieties

Sauvignon Blanc (80%)
Sémillon (20%)