2020 Chateau Malescot Saint Exupery Margaux

Chateau’s Malescot St.-Exupery’s name is steeped in impressive lore, but it only links to part of its fascinating story. The winery derives its moniker from two former owners: Simon Malescot, who bought the estate in 1697; and Count Jean Baptiste de Saint-Exupery, who claimed property ownership from 1827 to 1853. The vineyard and winery were recognized in the famous 1855 classification as a Third Growth. The most important names associated with the winery are Paul and Roger Zuger, the father-son tandem that rescued the property from a state of disrepair in 1955 and ushered in an exciting viticultural rebirth.

Today, this renewal of excellence continues to flourish strongly under Roger’s son, winemaker Jean-Luc Zuger, whose impressive skills and passion for the viticultural process results in wines that constantly nab high 90+pt wine scores from critical luminaries like Robert Parker. Jean-Luc propels the Chateau’s ongoing renaissance through this exquisite red blend by sourcing grapes from Margaux, an appellation where the exceptional fruit defines the overarching Bordeaux region. Its famously gravelly, well-draining soil forces its vines to dig deeper than usual for nutrients. This struggle produces sharply concentrated grapes that practically pop with a level of complex depth that even exceeds the world’s perception of what an exemplary Bordeaux should be.

The sentiment behind Chateau Malescot St. Exupery’s motto “ever higher” has guided this winery on a remarkable journey; one that’s taken them from the brink of irrelevancy to a critical darling of Robert Parker. The journey marches forward with confident strides with this brilliant limited-production Bordeaux blend. Winemaker Jean-Luc Zuger takes full advantage of Margaux’s legendarily well-draining soils, sourcing an exceptional mélange of Cabernet Sauvignon and other varietals to produce a magnificent selection. The full-bodied opulence and unbridled exuberance instantly remind us why Bordeaux wines matter so much to the wine world. 

2020 was a great year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 97-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is very, very high."