Château Belgrave 2021

Dark-fruited, fragrant, lots of cassis, delicate roasted notes. Taut palate, generous fruit, noticeable tannins and good harmony. Long, spicy, red-fruited finish. Will offer pleasure quickly, can age.

The 2021 Belgrave exhibits notions of baked berries, plum preserve and pencil shavings, followed by a medium-bodied, tangy palate with a sweet core of fruit, powdery tannins and a slightly herbal finish.

Dark and slightly brawny in feel, with warm stone, autumn leaf, black currant and singed cedar notes giving this a pleasantly rustic persona. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2031. 18,000 cases made, 450 cases imported.

65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Deep crimson hue. Dark-fruit aromas. Ripe and finely framed, the tannins rounded. Cabernet notes to the fore. Clean and direct but perhaps not for the long haul. (JL)

The 2021 Belgrave, bottled in June 2023, has an impressive bouquet with dried iris flower, blackberry, cedar and light graphite aromas that seem to gain delineation with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, slightly chalky tannins, sufficient black fruit and a touch of black pepper toward the finish. Classic in style, drink this over the next decade.

Menthol, wild cherries, licorice, spearmint and leafy tobacco notes open the nose and the palate. The wine is bright, fresh, and almost zesty with its crisp, chewy, red berry finish. Drink from 2025-2037.

Dark ruby garnet colour with purple reflections, subtle ochre rim. Delicate aromas of blackberries, black cherries, some nougat and orange zest, with subtle herbal savouriness in the background. Taut, with notes of red berries, slender texture, fresh acidity, mineral and salty finish, delicately leafy on the finish.

The 2021 Château Belgrave is solid, with a complex, perfumed, medium-bodied style as well as ripe yet building tannins, a supple, layered mouthfeel, the fresh, focused style of the vintage, and spicy, leathery, savory herb-tinged aromas and flavors. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged 12 months in barrel.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot) Silky, elegant, dark bouquet, cassis, cedar, slate. Elegant, tightly knit palate with dense, dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, complex aromatics, elegant structure, long, fresh finish.

(65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot) Silky, elegant, dark bouquet, cassis, cedar, slate. Elegant, tightly woven palate with dense dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, complex aromatics, elegant structure, long, fresh finish. 18/20 2030 - 2055

This is savoury, well balanced, with Left Bank typicity in its slate, coffee bean and cassis fruit lifted by mint, black pepper and all-spice, with the smoke of the gravel terroir. 29% new oak. Single point upscore. Guillaume Rousseau, cellar master, is originally from Burgundy. Tasted twice.

A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Belgrave is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It charges out of the glass with bold notions of warm cassis, juicy plums, and black pepper, plus nuances of bay leaves and tar. The medium-bodied palate is soft and juicy, with plenty of bright fruit and a refreshing finish.

The wine offers an immediate, gourmand character, with a fairly soft palate, yet with lovely length and refined tannin texture. A bottle you can start drinking without haste, which will evolve well for at least a decade.

A seductive, highly inviting nose of opulent, penetrating fruit with a smoky touch. A silky caress, fluid on the palate, for a wine full of character.

The bouquet of Belgrave 2021 offers a beautiful aromatic range with nuances of black berries and licorice. Precise in character, it shows clear ambition. On the palate, Cabernet Sauvignon emerges to great effect. It carries the wine, ideally supported by tight, perfectly integrated tannins, while the acidity provides energy and sapidity. A precise, ambitious wine that displays its power through a sleek profile. That, too, is what makes a great wine!

Dark, deep, purple hue. Very aromatic nose with pure, ripe fruit. Delicate on entry, flavorful, the wine unfolds with a pleasing texture and aromas, leading to a finish of average length.

Aromatic and expressive nose, perfumed and black-fruited with dark chocolate and clove. Supple and agile, a lively character but with a stony undercurrent that provides grip and texture on the palate. Great tannin management and focus, cool character but also concentration, with a lovely gravelly aspect that puts the terroir in the glass and lends a mineral salinity.

The wine from this classed growth estate just west of Saint-Julien is showing ripe tannins and a solid, dense character. A licorice aroma and layers of black fruits give richness and promise aging. Drink from 2027.