Malescote St Exupery 2007, 2011, 2014, 2015 2017

Violets. Violets. Violets. Strawberries and raspberries.

There are always some pastille tones/shades to the red fruit on aeration. Almost all vintages then give a brighter and more intense ruby colour; they have lots of interesting dry extract (rose, violets, lavender, with quality freshness (strawberries fruit) and fruit precision(blackcurrant, pastilles). Well-structured and reasonably complex, all bottles start with smoky cassis and new oak (mocha coffee and vanilla), good purity of fruit (ripe red, dark to mix), a bright core and well-worked tannins. On the palate, the fruit profile turns complex- always fruity and round with strawberries, raspberry and blackcurrants. With suitable fruit lengths of quality Cru, all vintages are easy without losing the intensity; tense without losing the balance. And all bottles are excellent for all occasions. However, if you are looking for a super complex Margaux set, these Malescote St Exupery bottles may be for someone else.

The stylistics will say: a clean, balanced and fruity modern wine.

The Malescote St Exuprety style is reflected in the technicals summarised as follows. Vinification/ Maturation/Temperature controlled and matured in 100% new oak(sometimes less); hence the wine is bold and powerful. All vintages undergo malolactic in the barrel depending on the vintage, ageing on lees with stirring; hence, there are always adequate intensity, complexities and textural touch. Mostly 13-14 months of barrel ageing before being racked without fining or filtration; therefore, the creaminess. ABV is just right; almost all vintages are at 13.5%, so this wine is full-bodied. All vintages are 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 29% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 8% Petit Verdot; the varied grapes mean creating better complexity over time. The mInerality finish is more from the soil gravel overlying chalk or marl slopes towards the Gironde. Fruit is picked into trays to prevent crushing; hence, the freshness.

2007 has lifted acidity on the palate, leading to an extended finish. It now has traits of clarets; some complexity, maturity and tertiary tones still fruit. 2011 has excellent structure-lean, slightly austere, with elegance. 2014 is floral, solid, seamless and long. Its fruit profile drumming on a different beat-blueberry and minerality. 2015 is easy to understand and is very lovely. Farr wrote aptly, 'inky colour with a dense black fruit nose. The palate is rich with mouth-filling tannins and a glycerol texture, which gives the blackcurrant and cherry fruit an oozing ripeness. The finish is pure cassis with a bit of creamy vanilla. Plush with no hard edges. Edited.' 2017 is tight with minerality- good fruit with a dry finish.