Château Belle-Vue 2019

Juicy and direct, with nicely focused red currant, floral and iron notes all supported by a subtle chalky minerality through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Carmenère. Drink now through 2028. 6,800 cases made, 2,000 cases imported.

Baking spices on the nose, a touch of cinnamon and cloves with some savoury elements too, a little closed in terms of fruit expression. Good intensity on the palate with a drive of sleek yet ripe black fruits and a lovely creamy, chalky aspect to the tannins. Acidity keeps things fresh and lively and this feels harmonious and well balanced. A great pick for fruit and freshness. Suave and charming. One to drink sooner as well. A blend of 54% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere. More Merlot here gives a really bright, upfront fruit style.

Aromas of mulberries, dark cherries, wet earth, soya and smoke. Medium- to full-bodied with firm tannins. Structured, with a fleshy texture and a fruity finish. 54% Merlot, 26% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot. 1% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere. Drink from 2023.

Already expressive with notes of flowers, savory herbs, cedar, dark red fruits, and tobacco leaf. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and polished, with a round, fruit-packed finish. Belle-Vue (Haut-Médoc) is one of the few Bordeaux produced using the 5 allowable grape varieties. Drink from 2023-2038.

Inky dark purple core and hue. Pure nose, dark-fruited with blackcurrant, cherry, mild toast and mocha notes. A classically dense palate with ripe extract, fine oak integration, and fresh acidity that lifts the inky dark fruit; the finish is long and potent.

Rock star stuff readers should snatch up, the deep ruby/purple-hued 2019 Château Belle-Vue gives up a gorgeous bouquet of ripe currants, black cherries, tobacco, and cedar pencil. This carries to a medium- to full-bodied, round, supple, elegant Haut-Médoc with velvety tannins, remarkable balance, and a great finish. It's a gorgeous bottle of wine that will keep for over a decade.

Purple-red. Gorgeous bouquet of ripe blackcurrants, with elderberry juice, light tobacco and licorice in the background. On the elegant palate, a silky texture, ripe extract and supportive tannins, with a delicate grip. The aromatic finish explodes with black berries, juniper and hints of graphite. This is among the best Haut-Médocs of the year – congratulations!

Kunz barrel sample 2020: velvety, dark, subtly bitter bouquet, cassis, black cherries, cedar, dark tobacco. Powerful, classic palate with dark fruit, well-muscled structure, plenty of fine tannins, intense aromatics, long, bitter finish.

The 2019 Belle-Vue is made of 54% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenere. Deep garnet-purple in color, it has quite an earthy/savory nose of tar, truffles, and damp soil over a core of baked plums and boysenberries with a touch of dried herbs. Medium-bodied, soft, and well-crafted, it has bags of savory flavors and a fragrant, understated finish. This is a wine for those who prefer savory to fruity!

2019 is a beautiful, classically styled wine, built on lovely fruit and supple tannins. The significant share of Petit Verdot adds a spicy, refreshing note. It will evolve very well, like all the wines of the estate.

Racy and particularly harmonious. Sumptuous nose of black fruits, truffle and violet, great textural elegance; everything is perfectly judged, with a velvety grain, fresh tannins, and a long, balanced finish. Plenty of breed. Outstanding harmony.

The nose benefits from decanting. It reveals notes of blackberry, spices and, more subtly, violet, together with touches of wild berries and fine hints of fresh pepper in the background. The palate is fruity and offers freshness, fine crunch, energy, a certain aromatic purity, some flesh, and a very delicate creaminess. On the palate, this wine delivers notes of crunchy strawberry, crunchy small red berries and, more lightly, violet, along with touches of fresh/bright blackcurrant, fine hints of fresh licorice, racy minerality, as well as a subtle hint of sense of place, toasted almond, and discreet hints of fresh spices. Good length. A subtle hint of caramelization appears on the finish/persistence.

Logo on the cork: LA Dark, intense color. Very aromatic nose with ripe fruit. Precise on the attack, more aromatic than ever, with flavor, a present and supple body; the wine finishes a bit discreet in persistence, without harshness. Normal length.

This fresher style of wine offers layers of black-currant acidity. They go with the ageworthy tannins to promise richness as the wine matures. Drink from 2025.