The 2012 Malartic-Lagraviere Bordeaux Blend is a distinguished red wine hailing from the Pessac Leognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France. Produced by Malartic-Lagraviere, this wine has garnered praise from several notable reviewers, highlighting its complexity and aging potential.
James Suckling describes the wine as having "lots of precision and focus" with notable flavors of blueberry, mineral, and dried fruit. He notes the wine's full body, fine tannins, and "silky finish," suggesting it will improve with age, recommending it be enjoyed from 2019 onwards.
Wine Enthusiast gives this wine an impressive score of 94, calling it "big, ripe and juicy" with a strong tannic structure that complements its rich black fruit character. The review mentions the presence of spice, ginger, and nutmeg, suggesting that it is best enjoyed starting in 2022.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also awards the wine a 94, praising it as a "beauty" with a dense ruby/purple color and a plush, opulent texture. Parker highlights the wine's medium to full-bodied flavors of cassis, spicy earth, and blueberry, considering it a "textbook Pessac-Lèognan" due to its velvety tannins and balance.
Neal Martin's Wine Journal mentions the wine's "light, marine scents" and black fruit infused with a touch of brine. The review acknowledges the wine's masculine nature and suggests that it will benefit from several years of bottle aging to fully mature.
Wine Spectator gives the wine a 92, noting its solid composition with "dense layers of fig sauce, plum cake, and blackberry confiture." The finish is long and spice-laden, with a mouthwatering quality that persists despite its heft.
Lastly, Vinous describes the wine as having an "airy" bouquet with floral and blue fruit notes. It is characterized by a fleshy palate, fine acidity, and a "bitter edge" on the finish, indicating it should be enjoyable now and for another decade.
Overall, the 2012 Malartic-Lagraviere is a well-regarded wine with rich fruit flavors, a robust structure, and strong aging potential, making it a commendable choice for collectors and enthusiasts alike.