2017 Lespault Martillac Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Lespault-Martillac Blanc is endowed with a compelling interplay of bright, citrus/floral notes, with plenty of depth and textural richness that carries through to the finish. Lemon confit, almonds, dried flowers and mint add the closing nuances of complexity. Tasted two times.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The Lespault-Martillac 2017 Blanc opens with a waft of SO2 over a core of ripe apples, pears and grapefruit plus hints of dill seed and crushed stones. The palate is medium-bodied, crisp and elegant, with a very lively backbone, finishing minerally. The blend is 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Sémillon. It was fermented in French oak barrels, 35% new, and aged on its lees for nine months.
The 2017 Lespault-Martillac Blanc has a slightly muted bouquet upon first pouring and need time to evolve its dried honey, hazelnut and green apple aromas. The palate is fresh on the entry with crisp acidity, vibrant in the mouth with a tightly-wound, saline finish that seems to be full of energy. There is a touch of lemongrass enlivening the aftertaste. Tasted twice, this actually improved when inspected in December 2019.
The 2017 Chateau Lespault-Martillac Blanc is a beauty, and I’d be happy to have bottles in the cellar. Revealing a vivid gold hue as well as bright lemon-laced fruits and some salty minerality, it’s medium-bodied, has a pretty, seamless mouthfeel, terrific balance, and a clean, lively finish. Drink it over the coming decade or so.