Chateau Malartic Lagraviere 2017, Pessac Leognan (1x75cl)

Château Malartic Lagraviére is a producer located in the Pessac-Léognan region of Graves in Bordeaux. It was one of only six châteaux to have both its red and white wines classified in the 1959 Graves classification, and since then, the estate has become a very modern winemaking establishment. The château was originally purchased at the end of the 18th Century by the family of Count Hippolyte de Maurés de Malartic, an admiral who served in the French navy, notably during the Battle of Quebec in 1756; his legacy is commemorated with an 18th-century ship on the wine label. In 1850, it was purchased by Madam Arnaud Ricard, and was passed down through the family, before it was purchased in 1997 by the Bonnie family. With the help of architect Bernard Mazières and consulting winemaker Michel Rolland, they built the winery into a modern facility incorporating gravity flow tanks and temperature-controlled stainless steel vats in fermentation. Château Malarctic Lagraviére covers 53 hectares (131 acres) on a high terrace, with deep deposits of gravelly soil over limestone and clay. The gravel gives excellent surface drainage, while the clay retains enough moisture to keep the vines hydrated throughout the growing season. The flagship red is predominately Cabernet Sauvignon, with an almost equal amount of Merlot, depending on the vintage, with smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The dry Blanc is predominately Sauvignon Blanc with a small percentage of Semillon. The château also makes a second-tier label, La Réserve de Malartic Rouge and Blanc.