2011 Château Malartic-Lagraviere (Blanc)

Château Malartic-Lagraviere is a Classified Growth of the Graves appellation. The 91-acre estate was established in the 18th century by a French Admiral. The estate changed hands several times in the following centuries and in 1996 was acquired by the Bonnie family. The Bonnie family also owns Château Gazin Rocquencourt in Pessac-Leognan and Bodega Diamandes in Argentina. Malartic-Lagraviere is planted to 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The estate also produces a white wine of 80% Sauvignon and 20% Semillon. The second wine, which is produced in red and white styles, is Le Sillage de Malartic. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that under the Bonnie family, “Malartic-Lagraviere has come to life. This once underachiever has made astonishing leaps in quality since 1997…Both reds and whites are now worthy of consumers’ interest…”

Pessac-Léognan was created in 1987 from the northern part of the left bank Graves appellation. Before then it was simply part of Graves, or sometimes it was called Haut-Graves. Unlike many other Bordeaux appellations, Pessac-Léognan is known for both red and dry white wines, although its reds are more famous. The appellation includes ten communes and the area’s most important châteaux, including Château Haut-Brion, the only non-Médoc estate included in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. There are 2,964 acres of vineyards in Pessac-Léognan and 16 classified growth estates. The main red grapes grown are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, along with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. White grapes grown are Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, with a little Muscadelle. Pessac-Léognan is considered to have the best terroir of the greater Graves region.