Chateau Malescasse Haut Medoc, Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Malescasse

Learn everything about Chateau Malescasse Haut Medoc with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property and information on their vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Malecasse History, Overview

Chateau Malescasse was founded by the Renouil Family in 1824. The original owners held the estate for more than fifty years until selling the vineyard to the Pineguy family in 1887.

Like all Bordeaux estates, the property has had its up and down periods, with some owners having the funds to maintain the estate and its vineyards better than others. By the mid-1970s, the vineyards were barely planted and only 4 hectares of vines remained.

Things started to improve, albeit slightly for Chateau Malescasse by the mid-1990s when the Alcatel company purchased the property from Alfred Tesseron of Chateau Pontet Canet and his brother, Guy Tesseron of Chateau Lafon Rochet. The Alcatel Group was quite experienced in Bordeaux, as they already owned Chateau Gruaud Larose in Saint Julien. In 2012, Philippe Austruy purchased Chateau Malescasse.

This was not the first wine investment for Philippe Austruy, as he already owned a vineyard in Provence, La Commanderie Peyrassol.

One of the early moves made by Philippe Austruy after taking over the estate was to bring in the team of Stephane Derenoncourt to improve their wine-making and vineyard management.

In an effort to improve the reputation and quality of the wine being produced at the estate, they were one of the first Bordeaux chateaus to announce they were going to declassify their entire production from the 2013 harvest. It took a few years, but starting with the 2014 vintage, things have been on the upswing at Chateau Malescasse.

Chateau Malecasse Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 40 hectare Left Bank vineyard of Chateau Malescasse is planted to 45% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Petit Verdot. This shows a change in the vineyard with more Cabernet vines. The vineyard is one solid, unbroken parcel of vines. The terroir is gravel, clay, limestone, and sandy soils. The vines are old with an average vine age of 35 years.

The vineyard is located at about the midpoint between the Margaux appellation to the south. The St. Julien appellation is just to the north.

Their best parcels of vines are found on their land with the gravelly slopes. At their peak, the slopes rise to 30 meters.

To produce the wine of Chateau Malescasse, vinification takes place in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in vat. The wine is aged in about 40% new, French oak barrels for up to 14 months before bottling.

The best vintages of Chateau Malecasse are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, and 2009.

There is a second wine, La Closerie de Malescasse. The estate also produces a wine made from 100% Petit Verdot, Le Petit de Malescasse from a 1.27-hectare parcel of vines. On average, slightly less than 20,000 cases of wine are produced at Chateau Malescasse each year.

When to Drink Chateau Malescasse, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Malescasse, when young, can be decanted for an average of 90 minutes or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Malescasse is usually better with at least 2-4 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Malescasse offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 3-15 years of age after the vintage.

Serving and Decanting Chateau Malecasse with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Malecasse is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine of Chateau Malecasse is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Malecasse is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta, as well as cheese.

www.chateau-malescasse.com

Château Malescasse Wine Tasting Notes

14 Vintages 55,308 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating

2023
91
Juicy, vibrant, forward, and fresh, the blackberries, strawberries, and currants, with their licorice, and tobacco edge are ripe, chewy, and vibrant. This is one of those top value Left Bank wines with character that sell for a song. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts.

Juicy, vibrant, forward, and fresh, the blackberries, strawberries, and currants, with their licorice, and tobacco edge are ripe, chewy, and vibrant. This is one of those top value Left Bank wines with character that sell for a song. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts.

899 Views   Tasted
2022
91
Black currants, licorice, tobacco leaf and spearmint shine in the nose with no effort. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, polished and vibrant, with chewy currants in the round, savory-edged finish. Drink from 2026-2040. 90-92 Pts.

Black currants, licorice, tobacco leaf and spearmint shine in the nose with no effort. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, polished and vibrant, with chewy currants in the round, savory-edged finish. Drink from 2026-2040. 90-92 Pts.

2,176 Views   Tasted
2021
89
Plums, tobacco and cherries make their presence known from the start. The wine is open, forward, medium-bodied, bright, and chewy, with a touch of green olives, dusty cherries and mint that show in the finish. Drink from 2024-2033.

Plums, tobacco and cherries make their presence known from the start. The wine is open, forward, medium-bodied, bright, and chewy, with a touch of green olives, dusty cherries and mint that show in the finish. Drink from 2024-2033.

755 Views   Tasted
Medium-bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, crunchy and savory, softly-textured, with a savory, olive edge to the finish. Drink from 2024-2038. 87-89

Medium-bodied, bright, fresh, crisp, crunchy and savory, softly-textured, with a savory, olive edge to the finish. Drink from 2024-2038. 87-89

1,718 Views   Tasted
2020
92
Flowers, cigar box, currants, forest floor, smoke, espresso and cooking spice create the complex nose. On the palate, the wine is loaded with sweet, dark red berries with a hint of cocoa, soft-textures and freshness in the finish. Drink from 2024-2040.

Flowers, cigar box, currants, forest floor, smoke, espresso and cooking spice create the complex nose. On the palate, the wine is loaded with sweet, dark red berries with a hint of cocoa, soft-textures and freshness in the finish. Drink from 2024-2040.

1,358 Views   Tasted
The wine is round, rich, fruity with loads of ripe, dark, fresh red fruits, soft tannins, hints of dark cocoa and flesh. 89-91 Pts

The wine is round, rich, fruity with loads of ripe, dark, fresh red fruits, soft tannins, hints of dark cocoa and flesh. 89-91 Pts

2,657 Views   Tasted
2019
91
Espresso, black cherry, smoke, licorice, plums and dark cherries create a complex nose. On the palate the wine is round, sweet, soft and polished, finishing with a nice sweetness to the dark red fruits with a touch of spice in the end note. This is a superb Bordeaux value wine that savvy consumers should take a serious look at. Drink from 2023-2034.

Espresso, black cherry, smoke, licorice, plums and dark cherries create a complex nose. On the palate the wine is round, sweet, soft and polished, finishing with a nice sweetness to the dark red fruits with a touch of spice in the end note. This is a superb Bordeaux value wine that savvy consumers should take a serious look at. Drink from 2023-2034.

1,946 Views   Tasted
Smoky, with touches of espresso, licorice, spice and red fruits, the wine is round, soft, polished and with loads of sweet, juicy fruits. When the oak is fully integrated, this will be a much better wine. 90-92 Pts

Smoky, with touches of espresso, licorice, spice and red fruits, the wine is round, soft, polished and with loads of sweet, juicy fruits. When the oak is fully integrated, this will be a much better wine. 90-92 Pts

2,350 Views   Tasted
2018
92
A clear contender for the best, Left Bank value wine made today, this beauty is elegant, fresh, soft, silky, polished, medium-bodied, fruity, ripe, sweet and already accessible. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.

A clear contender for the best, Left Bank value wine made today, this beauty is elegant, fresh, soft, silky, polished, medium-bodied, fruity, ripe, sweet and already accessible. Drink it over the next 5-7 years.

2,907 Views   Tasted
Dark in color, fat, round, lush, concentrated, sweet and rich in texture, with a long blast of deep red and black fruits, licorice and chocolate in the mid-palate and finish. Long, plush and loaded with character, this is a steal for the price.

Dark in color, fat, round, lush, concentrated, sweet and rich in texture, with a long blast of deep red and black fruits, licorice and chocolate in the mid-palate and finish. Long, plush and loaded with character, this is a steal for the price.

1,571 Views   Tasted
How did they make a wine this good here is what I asked myself. Inky in color, the wine is lush, rich, deep and fruity, The tannins are polished and the dark red berries, earthy tobacco and espresso carry through to the long plummy finish. This should be easy to drink on release or with just a year or two of age. Value seekers should take note of this wine. 91-93 Pts

How did they make a wine this good here is what I asked myself. Inky in color, the wine is lush, rich, deep and fruity, The tannins are polished and the dark red berries, earthy tobacco and espresso carry through to the long plummy finish. This should be easy to drink on release or with just a year or two of age. Value seekers should take note of this wine. 91-93 Pts

2,551 Views   Tasted
2017
89
Soft, round and forward with espresso, cocoa and earthy black cherries on the nose and on the palate, the wine is soft with gentle tannins and a sweet, dark plummy finish. This should be easy to drink on release or with just a year or two of age.

Soft, round and forward with espresso, cocoa and earthy black cherries on the nose and on the palate, the wine is soft with gentle tannins and a sweet, dark plummy finish. This should be easy to drink on release or with just a year or two of age.

3,878 Views   Tasted
2016
91
Fleshy, round, rich, ripe and juicy, with good character, this is the best vintage of Malescasse I have tasted.

Fleshy, round, rich, ripe and juicy, with good character, this is the best vintage of Malescasse I have tasted.

2,943 Views   Tasted
Best ever wine from Malescasse! With deep color and soft tannins, this wine is fleshy, fresh and satisfying, leaving you with a supple, round, sweet, dark plummy, fruity finish.

Best ever wine from Malescasse! With deep color and soft tannins, this wine is fleshy, fresh and satisfying, leaving you with a supple, round, sweet, dark plummy, fruity finish.

4,554 Views   Tasted
2015
90
Medium-bodied, round, and with a minty, leafy, spicy edge to the ripe, red fruits and thyme on the nose and palate, this is fully ready for its prime-time drinking window. Drink from 2022-2030.

Medium-bodied, round, and with a minty, leafy, spicy edge to the ripe, red fruits and thyme on the nose and palate, this is fully ready for its prime-time drinking window. Drink from 2022-2030.

3,183 Views   Tasted
Medium bodied, early drinking soft textured well priced wine with fresh dark red fruits tobacco earth and spice in the finish. This has good character and it sells for a song! 88 - 90 Pts

Medium bodied, early drinking soft textured well priced wine with fresh dark red fruits tobacco earth and spice in the finish. This has good character and it sells for a song! 88 - 90 Pts

4,280 Views   Tasted
2014
90
Soft, round open, easy drinking, crowd-pleasing charmer, with ripe, red fruits accompanied with licorice, smoke and tobacco leaf. This is going to be best over the next 6-8 years.

Soft, round open, easy drinking, crowd-pleasing charmer, with ripe, red fruits accompanied with licorice, smoke and tobacco leaf. This is going to be best over the next 6-8 years.

2,501 Views   Tasted
2012
80
Very little fruit here, most of what you find is olives, earth and earth, with a dash of crisp berries. Drink up, as it's not getting better from here.

Very little fruit here, most of what you find is olives, earth and earth, with a dash of crisp berries. Drink up, as it's not getting better from here.

2,972 Views   Tasted
2010
85
Medium bodied, early drinking quaffer with an earthy, dark red fruit character.

Medium bodied, early drinking quaffer with an earthy, dark red fruit character.

3,964 Views   Tasted
2009
85
Medium bodied, light in style, with a forward dark cherry character for early drinking.

Medium bodied, light in style, with a forward dark cherry character for early drinking.

3,515 Views   Tasted
2005
85
Fully mature, the wine is medium bodied, with an earthy, tobacco, cassis, olive and blackberry character on the nose and palate. The dusty tannins are accompanied by bright, red fruits in the crisp finish. There is no reason to hold this wine any longer.

Fully mature, the wine is medium bodied, with an earthy, tobacco, cassis, olive and blackberry character on the nose and palate. The dusty tannins are accompanied by bright, red fruits in the crisp finish. There is no reason to hold this wine any longer.

2,630 Views   Tasted