2007 de Malle

Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau de Malle 2007 is very pure on the nose: touches of lemon curd, apricot-blossom and white peach with a crystalline clarity. The palate is very well-balanced with impressive levels of botrytis, displaying a pinch of spice on the entry. It has put on weight in recent months and developed a convincing caressing finish imbued with tension. This exceeds my previous expectations. Tasted January 2011.

Pineapple dominates the nose. Clean, juicy and penetrating, with very intense, pure flavors of pineapple and honey. In its power, this reminded me of a 2001. Finishes with terrific lingering fruit.

Real lift as well as great ripeness and high sugar level. Pretty, floral notes. Something tense about this. Great energy and reserves. Well balanced. But not the most concentrated and precise. Some top quality oak evident at this stage. Reverberates. Long. (JR)