Awesome levels of blackcurrants, darker cherries, roasted herbs, chocolate, and scorched earth all emerge from the 2022 Château Malartic-Lagravière, an incredibly concentrated, rich, layered beauty that has velvety tannins, a deep, layered mid-palate, and a blockbuster finish. It's easily the finest I've tasted from this château and is a riveting 2022 that deserves 4-6 years in the cellar and will keep for two decades or more. The 2022 is based on 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, with the élevage spanning 20 months in 60% new French oak. There are a little over 8,000 cases of this brilliant wine.

A fascinating Malartic-Lagraviere from this hot vintage, but the wine is surprisingly fresh, showing depth, innate balance and complexity. The mineral-etched fruit turns glossy, with fine aromas of cassis, berries, plums, spices and a hint of violets. Almost full-bodied, with a complete package of fruit and chalky tannins. Long, juicy and posh. One of the best ever. Drink from 2027. - Zekun Shuai

Gorgeous fragrant red berry fruit on the nose, a touch of dried herbs and graphite. So super charming straight away, this is gorgeous. Creamy and juicy so you get both a crunchy bite to the fruit as well as a soft pillowy texture on the palate. Round, focused and really finessed but delivering so much flavour. Not overdone at all, this is restrained - almost lightweight - letting the crystalline fruit, acidity and integrated tannins speak clearly. Harmonised and balanced still with tension and poise. A real joy with plenty of ageing potential.

The Bonnie family is on a roll at this excellent property. Dense and concentrated but with finesse and acidity, this has a beautiful balance, and a creaminess to the fruit that is superb. Appealing pulses of white pepper and sage spice, well drawn out through the palate, exceptional skill shown during ageing at controlling the oak impact. Yields in the low 30hl/h, but maintains freshness. Vinified in a mix of small wooden casks and stainless steel vats, aged in oak.

Lush, full-bodied, creamy, and also, vibrant, fresh, and lively, the wine serves up layers of perfectly ripe, sweet, lusciously-textured blackberries, plums, and black cherries with ease. There is weight and density, but there is also ample freshness to keep this going on your mid-palate and in the finish. The wine blends 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot, and 1.5% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2029-2055.

This Pessac-Léognan is a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 43% Merlot, 2.5% Petit Verdot and 1.5% Cabernet Franc. The nose is rich in sweet and darkly focused fruit, with desiccated dried cherry, coffee bean and red rose petals. It feels completely integrated and fresh at the start of the palate, with an easy-going sense of balance, the substance polished and composed, with a midpalate structure of finely drawn-out tannins wrapping up concentrated currant and dried cherry fruits. A very classy composition, with powdery tobacco oak in the background and running into the finish, where it plays with the tannic grip, all of which will integrate given tine. All in all this brims with classy and understated potential. A wise buy. Tasted twice. The alcohol on the label is 14%. - Chris Kissack

The 2022 Malartic-Lagravière has a more outgoing and expressive nose than Domaine de Chevalier or Smith Haut-Lafitte, yet it too has impressive complexity and convincing terroir expression. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. A lovely, fleshy mid-palate, quite caressing in style, with fine acidity and a healthy dose of black pepper on the finish. Excellent, a Malartic-Lagravière that pushes some of the pricier names of the appellation. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London. - Neal Martin

Warm plum, black currant and black cherry compote notes cruise through slowly, inlaid with singed alder and black tea. Warm earth, bay and burnished leather hints keep the finish nicely grounded. Very solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2038. — J.M.

A blend of 56% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2.5% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Malartic Lagravière reveals a classic, elegant bouquet of cassis, mulberries, flowers and spices. Medium to full-bodied and round, it's elegantly juicy with a generously extracted structure leading the way to an assertive, structured tannic frame, concluding with a spicy, long finish. Notably, the blend has shifted since the en primeur tasting, lending the wine a more introverted character. - Yohan Castaing