Lots of blackcurrants and blueberries on the nose, together with walnuts and chocolate. Full-bodied and very layered, with super depth and plushness, offering currant, crushed-stone and bitter-chocolate flavors. Very lush for this wine, but velvety and structured at the same time. Needs four to six years of bottle age. Try after 2027.

(95 - 97 points) Sporting a deep purple-black color, the 2020 Malescot St. Exupery prances out of the glass with showy scents of ripe black and red currants, black cherries, raspberry leaves and ground cloves, plus wafts of lilacs and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate delivers mouth-coating black and red fruit layers with a firm, grainy texture and well-balanced acidity, finishing on a lingering fragrant-earth note.- LPB

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Malescot St. Exupery is a little sluggish and broody to begin, before cutting loose with notes of crushed red currants, warm cassis, and black raspberries, followed by hints of cardamom, violets, and black pepper. Medium to full-bodied, rich and plush, it delivers bags of opulent black and red fruits and fantastic persistence.

(94+ points) Beautiful cassis, smoky oak, graphite, blackberries, and scorched earth notes emerge from the 2020 Château Malescot Saint Exupéry, another incredibly impressive wine from Margaux in the vintage. With medium to full-bodied richness, it has plenty of mid-palate depth, the building, firmer tannins of the vintage, fabulous purity of fruit, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following 15-20 years.

Deeply colored, the wine sports a nose of cocoa, flowers, black pit fruits, and espresso. The palate is full, rich, deep, vibrant long. The depth of fruit, length, and volume, as well as freshness attached to the fruit in the finish, is what counts here. The wine blends 49% Merlot, 44% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. 13.5% ABV. Drink from 2027-2050. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/wine-tasting-note/?vintage=2020&wine=Chateau%20Malescot%20St.%20Exupery

(92-94 points) Barrel Sample. This wine is dry, showing some extracted tannins. It is the weight of the black fruits that will redeem its initial massive structure. Acidity and hints of the blackberry fruits to come arrive at the end. ROGER VOSS

The 2020 Malescot Saint-Exupéry is oaky on the nose. At the moment, the wood occludes the fruit profile, but it will assimilate with time, and there is satisfying delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a sweeter entry than its peers, perhaps due to more extraction or later picking. It retains decent freshness, although it just needs to muster a little more restraint and grace, which may well develop with bottle age. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. -- Neal Martin

Crunchy blue fruits with nice acidity and finessed tannins that gently support the succulent cherry, blackcurrant and plum fruit. Toasted elements, clove and cinnamon and cedar and liquorice come into play fairly quickly but this has freshness with a cool minty tang to the overall expression, and there is a sleekness to the structure. It's opulent, though it hasn't been overworked and works well with the vintage.

A ripe, slightly flashy style, with a lovely core of mulled plum and blackberry fruit laced with black tea and singed sandalwood. Reveals a very caressing feel through the finish, with hints of mocha and dark tobacco filling in. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2036.  – JM