France · Bordeaux

Chateau Malescot St. Exupery

Chateau Malescot St. Exupery, a Third Growth classified Margaux estate, takes its unusual double-barreled name from two historical owners—Simon Malescot, 17th-century attorney-general of Guyenne, and Count Jean-Baptiste de St. Exupery who owned it in the early 19th century. The estate covers approximately 23 hectares in the heart of the Margaux appellation, planted predominantly to Cabernet Sauvignon with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Under the Zuger family since 1955 and with winemaking overseen by Jean-Luc Zuger, Malescot has become known for a particularly aromatic, violet-inflected style that exploits Margaux's gravel soils and a relatively high Cabernet Sauvignon proportion. At auction, 1,008 lots average $101 per bottle reaching $1,298, with the 2005 vintage the strongest performer. Critical scores in top vintages (2005, 2009, 2010, 2016) regularly reach 95–97 points, supporting secondary market demand. The concentration and aromatic intensity of Malescot's best wines have prompted critics to describe them as Margaux's most intensely perfumed growth, though the style can occasionally tip toward over-extraction in warmer vintages when yields are reduced aggressively. The estate covers only 23 hectares, making production relatively limited compared to larger Margaux classified properties—a restricted supply that supports pricing despite the Third Growth's more modest position relative to Palmer or Rauzan-Segla.