Tasted at the Academie du Vin dinner, the 1916 Malartic-Lagravière is unequivocally one of most mesmerizing and moving Bordeaux wines that I have ever tasted. Donated directly from the chateau's cellar, one of but a handful remaining, the historical context alone confers history upon this, at the nadir of World War I, which must have rendered winemaking extremely difficult. Put that aside, if this bottle had been drinkable, I would have applauded. Instead, this century-old wine was much more than that. Clear in color, it showed impressive depth for its age. The bouquet is entrancing, almost Burgundy-like, more C?te de Nuits than C?te de Beaune with pure raspberry coulis, crushed strawberry and rose petal scents that showed far more vigor than I expected. The palate is soft and rounded, not a deep wine per se, yet generous with mulberry and red plum, Chinese five-spice and bay leaf. The tannins are lace-like, imparting this Malartic-Lagravière with elegance and grace. Astonishingly, instead of tapering down to a point, it actually revealed more depth on the finish and has an almost sumptuous texture. It is one of the jaw-dropping experiences, a multi-faceted wine that defies all preconceptions. Such is the beauty of old Claret. Tasted April 2016.