Wine Advocate 93 / 100 byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020 The 2017 Malescot St. Exupery is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot aged in French oak, 70% new. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it is redolent of warm red and black currants, kirsch and raspberry pie on the nose with floral wafts, tobacco and wild sage in the background plus a hint of pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, it is packed with expressive red and black fruits and is velvety and refreshing, finishing long. Drinking Window : 2020 - 2039
Vinous 93 / 100 byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020 The 2017 Malescot Saint Exupéry has really come together nicely over the course of its élevage. In this vintage, Malescot is a bit more fruity and less structured than it has been. Cedar, licorice, dried herbs, menthol and scorched earth notes give the 2017 a distinctly savory feel to match its somber, virile personality. The 2017 is a wine that keeps getting better each time I taste it, and that makes me very hopeful for the future; it will be interesting to see what happens here with aging, and, specifically, if a bit more structure emerges. This is a wine of great personality and character. 93+
Wine Spectator 93 / 100 byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020 The plum and cassis notes are pure and fresh, carried by a polished structure, while aromatic black tea, violet, bergamot and alder elements hang in the background. Very stylish and nicely rendered for the vintage. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2033. 6,183 cases made. — JM
Jamessuckling.com 94 / 100 byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020 Aromas of blueberries and stone with some dried-flower notes. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, silky tannins and a medium finish. Linear and refined with a very fine line of tannins running through it. Better after 2023.
Le Point 17 / 20 byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018 Nez expressif, fruits noirs, frais, net, juteux, charnu, élégant, bon équilibre, soyeux, séveux, bon volume, finale relevée, épicée, très savoureux.
Vinifera 94 / 100 byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018 Nez mûr, sanguin, chocolaté, d’une plénitude et d’une profondeur impressionnante pour le millésime. Bouche relativement déployée dans sa forme, qui évite les écueils de la surextraction, veloutée, goûteuse, charnue, de grand plaisir et de véritable longueur, extrêmement bien construite, excellente.
Vinous 89-91 / 100 byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018 Malescot Saint Exupéry comes across as very ripe in 2017. There is no shortage of depth or intensity, but ripeness is pushed to the edge, while the wine's structure – arguably its greatest signature – seems to be lacking. I don't see much typicity in the 2017. Malescot Saint Exupéry is often one of my personal favorites in Margaux, but the 2017 left me wanting more of its typical character and personality. Tasted two times.
The Wine Cellar Insider 93-95 / 100 byJeff Levethe5/11/2018 Deep and rich in color, this wine quickly evokes dark fruits, tobacco leaf, espresso, smoke and earthy nuances. On the palate, you’ll find a sweet, soft, fruity, full-bodied wine that expands in your mouth and delivers freshness and verve. Created from a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot, this reached13% alcohol with a pH of 3.75. The harvest took place September 19 to October 7. The estate lost close to 20% of their harvest to the frost.
Vinous 91-93 / 100 byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018 The 2017 Malescot St. Exupéry has a simpler bouquet than recent vintages with high-toned red cherry and raspberry fruit, quite “warm” compared to its peers and it would benefit from a little more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. It is not a complex Malescot St. Exupéry but I admire the balance and focus. There is plenty of tightly wound red berry fruit laced with cedar and smoke, quite finessed towards the finish with a long spicy aftertaste. I would just like the aromatics to step up to the grade of the palate, so let’s see how this shows once in bottle.
Wine Advocate 91-93 / 100 byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018 Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Malescot St. Exupery is scented of crushed red and black cherries, warm plums and mulberries with touches of roses and wood smoke. The palate is medium-bodied with plenty of vibrant red and black fruits and soft, plush tannins, with a long, perfumed finish.
Decanter.com 90 / 100 byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018 This is fairly substantial on the palate, although the fruit is just a notch below full ripeness. They have done a good job here, producing an enjoyable wine. There is evidence of winemaking on show which is skilfully carried out, but it just finishes a little short. Enjoyable medium term drinking from owner Jean-Luc Zuger. Drinking Window 2025 - 2038
WeinWisser 17 / 20 byRené Gabrielthe4/25/2018 Dunkles Granatrubin mit violettem Rand. Komple-xes Bouquet mit dunklen ROstaromen, da-hinter Tabakblatt und Brombeeren. Am Gaumen mit engmaschigem Tanningerüst, der kr-attige Kârper ist mit massiven Mus-keln besetzt, die es zu verdauen gilt, lm langen Finale Baumnuss und frisch ge-gerbte Pflaumenhaute. Für mich über das Ziel hinausgeschossen und nicht auf Vor-jahresniveau! 17/20 2023 - 2045
Wine Enthusiast 91-93 / 100 byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018 This is a fruit-driven wine, packed with a strong black-currant character and bright acidity. The tannins are light, though they lend ample structure for medium-term aging. It is more about freshness and attractive fruit. Drink from 2023.
Jamessuckling.com 95-96 / 100 byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018 A fantastic 2017 from Margaux with a deep and ripe core of fruit in the center palate. Silky and juicy tannins. Full body, plenty of fruit and a long, flavorful finish.
Wine Spectator 90-93 / 100 byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018 A breezy and fresh style, with pretty damson plum and cherry fruit lined with high-pitched floral and savory notes. Elegant mineral details run through the silky finish. Pure and graceful, showing sneaky length.—J.M.