And now for something completely different!  Monovarietal Bordeaux is fairly rare, but wines made from exclusively Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or even Cabernet Franc are not unheard of.  Some- Petrus’ pure Merlot or Cheval Blanc’s all Cabernet Franc, for example, are truly famous!  But a cuvee made from 100% Malbec?  That’s unique!  But who cares about ‘unique’ if unique is not ‘delicious’ and this lovely, heady red from Chateau Guillaume Blanc fits both bills admirably!  The property is seven generations old and located just up the hill from Gironde River on soils with parcels both on gravel and clay-limestone.  They do produce a more conventional blended Bordeaux Superieur but it’s this one particular five-hectare parcel of pure Malbec sitting on limestone and clay that provides the raw material for this ultra-interesting, much more limited cuvee.  Less rustic and broader on the palate than the best, say, Argentinian Malbecs, it’s a very dark wine with the pungency one expects from the grape and all its lifted mulberry, Damson plum, tobacco and white pepper on a nose that leads to a full-bodied, robust palate that we think way over delivers for the price.  The interesting thing we noted when we tried it here was how much this big red managed the purity and definition of a single variety without losing its innate ‘Bordeaux-ness!’  A fine friend to a lot of different hearty dishes, Malbec (from anywhere), loves hearty, rich beef dishes and Guillaume Blanc’s is no exception.  Finesse and Malbec in the same sentence?  Yes, it’s possible!  Who knew it would be from Bordeaux?  Simply delicious and a very good price! 

Decanter: Warm, rich, lively and imbued with blackberry, plum, cherry and violets. This is ample but accessible, with a leafy tone to the fruits. An excellent reading of pure Malbec and well worth seeking out." - 95 points