RP 92 WS 90 - Robert Parker 92 Points Perhaps the strongest wine I have ever tasted from Malartic Lagravière, the 2005 has a dense ruby/purple color and a wonderfully sweet nose of crème de cassis, graphite, and soil undertones. Medium-bodied., smoky, with classic scorched earth, Graves-like aromatics and flavors, this wine displays impeccable winemaking, with pure fruit, medium body, and gorgeously long, rich flavors and moderate levels of tannin. The wine should be relatively drinkable in 3-5 years and last for at least two decades or more. This is possibly the finest Malartic Lagravière ever made. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025 Wine Spectator 90 Points There's beautiful blackberry and toasty oak on the nose, with hints of licorice and meat. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a dark chocolate, fresh herb and currant aftertaste. Best after 2013. 8,330 cases made. -JS

"The finest wine yet made under the auspices of Belgian proprietor Alexandre Bonnie, Malartic Lagraviere's classically elegant 2005 reveals a deep ruby/purple color, wonderful density and richness, a sweet perfume of incense, spring flowers, blue and blackberries, scorched earth, and spice. While super rich in fruit as well as concentrated with medium body and superb precision, it remains a model of delicacy. Give this tasty Pessac-Leognan 4-5 years of bottle age, and drink it over the following ...

Concentrated cherry-like fruit sits at the heart of this carefully composed youngster while highlights of green olives, loam and a dash of sweet oak add richness and range. Nicely integrated tannins provide very claret-like structure yet stop short of being in any way tough, and, if fully ripened, the wine shows a fine sense of polish and should reach its top form with a wait of but five or six years.

Good medium red-ruby. Spiced plum, mocha and nutty oak on the nose, lifted by flowers and minerals. Juicy, bright and energetic, with an insidious sweetness and lovely clarity to the flavors of plum and tobacco. Finishes with very good tannic spine and length.

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