Château Malescasse H-Medoc Cru Bourg 2006

The Haut-Médoc is home to dozens of fine Crus Classés but anyone looking for serious quality at a fraction of the price should consider the Crus Bourgeois. The Cabernet rich, oak aged Malescasse 2006 provides sophisticated style, complexity and maturity. The château dates from 1824 and thrived until the 1930s, but by the end of World War II the vineyards had dwindled to 4 hectares. Replanting began in the 1970s, and the estate was taken over and run by the Tesseron family of Château Pontet Canet between 1979 and 1992. The year 2003 saw promotion to ‘Cru Bourgeois Superior’. Matured in one third new barrels for 16 months, this 2006 shows elegance and restraint with ripe cassis fruit and a cedary undertone.