Laguna Cellar Wine of the Month - February 2023

Located on one of the region's most beautiful gravelly rises, Château Malartic-Lagravière was purchased by the Count of Malartic in the 18th century.  Previously, it was known as Domaine de La Gravières until 1850, when it was given its current name.  Since 1997, this property has been under the ownership of th Bonnie family.  2015 was a big year for Bordeaux overall.  The Bonnie family did a particularly outstanding job.

The philosophy at Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste is all about a mixture of tradition and precision.  This Pauillac property is currently run by the well-respected Borie family and has been since 1978. Though the estate was classified as a Fifth Growth, François-Xavier Borie believed the terroir at Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste truly had the potential to produce wines that were the same quality level as some of the top Pauillac estates.  It turns out his instincts were right.  Under Borie’s leadership, Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste produces phenomenally elegant wines that are considered benchmark expressions of Pauillac terroir.

Château Pavie Macquin is located on the Côte Pavie, near the vineyards of Château Pavie, Château Pavie-Decesse and Château Troplong Mondot.  There are nine different types of soil, with different variations of limestone and clay.  Before 1988, the wines of this estate were fairly mediocre and it wasn’t until Nicolas Thienpont joined the team in 1994 that the quality of the wine skyrocketed. Critics soon began to take notice.  Nicolas Thienpont’s grandfather once owned Château Troplong-Mondot but sold it in 1936 to preserve his ownership in Vieux Chateau Certan.  His uncle, Jacques Thienpont, is the owner of the famously successful cult wine, Le Pin.  Nicolas studied law and philosophy at university before entering the wine trade.  He studied winemaking under his uncle Jacques.  He is on track to be Jacques' most successful protégé.

Château de Chantegrive Cuvée Caroline 2020 - "Aromas of sliced apples and lime zest with citrus blossom and crushed stones. Polished and round-textured on the palate with a full body and tangy acidity. Creamy finish. 60% sauvignon blanc and 40% semillon. Drink or hold." - James Suckling (1/16/2023) Rating: 93

"The 2020 Cuvee Caroline leaps from the glass with notes of lemon drops, fresh grapefruit and lime cordial, plus wafts of yuzu and honeysuckle. Medium-bodied, the palate has a seriously racy backbone cutting through the intense citrus and savory layers, finishing with great length and a skip in its step." - Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, (5/20/2021) Rating: 90-92 Drink: 2023-2031

Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2017 - "Composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, the 2017 Grand-Puy-Lacoste was aged in French oak barriques, 75% new. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with notes of fresh black raspberries, kirsch and crushed black and red currants with hints of spice box, fragrant soil and potpourri. Medium-bodied, the palate is frisky and fresh with a moderate level of approachable, soft tannins and compelling restraint on the finish." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, (3/16/2020), Rating: 90, Drink: 2020 - 2030

Château Malartic-Lagravières 2015 - "The 2015 Malartic-Lagraviere is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 7% Petit Verdot that was harvested between 21 September and 7 October at 43 hl/ha, matured in 80% new oak. It has a tightly wound bouquet, a little more reticent than its peers at first, opening gradually with blackberry, raspberry coulis and strawberry pastilles. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin, a keen line of acidity, fresh and brisk with plenty of mineralité on the finish. This is a classic, serious Malartic with huge potential. Chapeau to the Bonnie family for creating a stupendous Pessac-Léognan." - Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate (4/27/2016, Issue 224), Rating: 94-96, Drink: 2020-2050

Château Pavie Macquin 2017 - "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Pavie Macquin comes charging out of the glass with exuberant scents of warm black cherries, blackberry pie and wild blueberry coulis plus hints of menthol, licorice, candied violets and charcuterie. Medium-bodied, the palate is an exercise in precision and poise, featuring a beautiful frame of wonderfully ripe, very fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and multilayered. Simply stunning! The blend here is 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. It was aged for 16 months in French oak barrels, 70% new." - Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate (3/2020) Rating: 97, Drink: 2021-2046