Château Malescot Saint-Exupery 2023

The motto for Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry is written on the label of every bottle in elegant, Latin script. It consists of the simple phrase, “Semper Ad Altum,” meaning “Always striving higher.”  This is absolutely the case for this well thought-of Margaux property.  The viticultural team, now helmed by the brilliant and forward-thinking oenologist, Michel Rolland, consistently strives for excellence – setting the bar higher with each passing vintage.  The wines of Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry have consistently scored in the 90 points and above range for several decades. It is clear this estate is one of the most consistent jewels of Margaux.

Origins of Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry date all the way back to 1616 when the Escousses family owned it.  The Escousses family were notaries to King Louis XIV and in 1697, the property was sold to the King’s Attorney General, Simon Malescot.  The estate owes its namesake both to Simon Malescot and Jean Baptiste de Saint-Exupéry.  Interestingly enough, Jean Baptiste was the great grandfather of the famed novelist Antoine de Saint Exupéry, the author of the famed novella, Le Petit Prince.  Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry was acquired by Monsieur Boissac who implemented a gravity flow device in the winery, which was very forward thinking at the time.  Eventually it was acquired by the Zuger family, who revitalized it and still run the estate today.  The passionate, hip, and energetic Jean Luc Zuger is currently at the helm of Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry.  He enlisted the help of Michel Rolland, and together they have taken the wines of this Third Growth producer to new heights.

Michel Rolland and Jean Luc Zuger both implement natural yeasts to the winemaking process.  They believe using designer yeasts strips the wine of the essential terroir that makes it so unique.  They use a variety of fermentation vessels, including glass ones to ensure the freshness and ripe fruit qualities in their wines.  During poorer vintages, the winemaking team at Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry uses advanced winemaking technology like reverse osmosis devices to increase concentration of the wines.  Their wines usually consist of mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc.  Creating terroir-driven wines is the ultimate goal at Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry and  the terroir there is enviable, to say the least.  The gravel soils with bits of chalk, clay and iron prove to be the perfect home for the 45-hectares of vines.

It is an interesting coincidence that Antoine de Saint Exupéry, the author of Le Petit Prince, is connected to the history of Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry.  Le Petit Prince is about a pilot who crash lands in the desert and has an encounter with a young Prince from another planet.  The Prince is in love with a Rose and tends to her devotedly.  One of the more famous quotes from Le Petit Prince is, “You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed.” It is readily apparent that Jean Luc Zuger, Michelle Rolland and the rest of the team at Château Malescot Saint-Exupéry share this philosophy.  

"One of the most suave, classy vintages from this estate in some years, the 2023 Malescot St. Exupery is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, berries, licorice and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and succulent, with good depth at the core, supple tannins and a harmonious, integrated profile. Part of the blend is maturing in foudre." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, (04/26/2024), Ratings: 93-95 

"Rocking red and black fruits, spicy wood, savory herbs, and sandalwood notes all define the 2023 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry, and it's medium-bodied, supple, and elegant on the palate, with beautiful tannins. It's another impressively textured, balanced Margaux in the vintage that has ample charm and character." - Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2023 En Primeur, (05/08/2024), Ratings: 92-94

"Dark plum colour, this is inky, richly oaked, right on brand, with cloves, cassis, liqourice and cocoa dusting. Léa Zuger come back five years ago from Cananda to take over at the estate from her father who is looking to retire, and she is looking to lower the oak influence over next few years. Michel Rolland continues to work with them (as of 1991) himself, which is unusual these days. 60% new oak, harvest september 19 though to October 10. 39hl/h yield, 26.8ha in production right now because just pulled out their Cabernet Franc and will replant with Cabernet Sauvignon." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, (04/24/2024), Ratings: 92, Drink: 2030-2045