2012 Malartic Lagraviere Blanc

The 2012 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc, a blend of 75% Sauvignon Blanc and 25% Sémillon, has long been a personal favorite since I first encountered it in barrel. Deeper in colour than the 2013, it has a gorgeous and exuberant bouquet of lemon curd, dried honey and beeswax, well defined and generous. The palate is medium-bodied with a fine bead of acidity. This feels tangy with veins of tangerine and lemongrass towards the finish that is tensile and vibrant. It comes highly recommended. Tasted at the vertical tasting at Malartic-Lagravière.

Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting. The 2012 Malartic-Lagravière Blanc has a very attractive bouquet, armed with expressive Sauvignon Blanc scents: gooseberry, greengage and a touch of honeysuckle. The palate is clean and fresh with a veneer of oak that will be subsumed with time. I appreciate the balance and poise of this wine, that dab of ginger on the finish that leaves the tongue tingling long after the wine has gone. What a fantastic, life-affirming, damn delicious white Bordeaux from the estate - this comes highly recommended. Tasted January 2016.

Malartic-Lagraviere's 2012 Blanc is open-knit, sensual and inviting. Candied lemon, slate, flowers, white pepper and a hint of orange peel blossom in the glass. Even with all of its richness, the 2012 maintains gorgeous precision and a sense of crystalline purity that is impossible to miss. What a gorgeous wine this is. The blend is 75% Sauvignon and 25% Semillon. Michel Rolland is the consulting winemaker.