Chateau Malaire, Grande Cuvée Réserve, Médoc, Bordeaux, France, 2016

Overview of the Wine
Château Malaire is a historic wine estate situated on the highest plateau of the Médoc in Bordeaux, France. They produce highly-rated, classic Bordeaux blends, primarily using Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. Their flagship wines retail for around $16 to $25 per bottle and are celebrated for their rich red fruit flavors and elegant aging potential.

Winemaker
Magali Guyon

Grape / Blend
60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin
Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
It’s always challenging to write about a wonderful vintage, when it follows a wonderful vintage. That said the 2016 scores higher in our minds than the 2015. The color is superb, the aromas and tannins were released without effort, and the wine is beautifully balanced.

The bud break happened in late March, following a very mild winter. Springtime was rainy, very rainy, and fortunately flowering took place during a window of dry weather in June. The very dry weather set in in July and lasted until mid-September giving the grapes a remarkable concentration with colour and tannins.

This year the wines were aged in a higher percentage of new oak barrels than normal, and for 16 months vs 12 months, as we occasionally do on very special vintages. The 2016 vintage has the quiet nobility of great vintages, sure of their charm and their power.

90 Points - James Suckling
Sweet cherries, ripe plums, coffee and a touch of mushrooms on the nose. Refined and well-aged, with plummy fruit and a tight-grained finish. Good length and still firm. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet sauvignon. Drink now through to 2028.

Product size: 750ml