Château Bellegrave 2023

Intense bouquet with plenty of dark fruit, cassis, tobacco and stony undertones; light-footed on the attack, then builds up power, showing breed, fine tannins and a fresh, red-fruited and spicy finish.

Medium-bodied, fresh, forward, fruity, light in weight, with a soft, early-drinking, forward character. You can enjoy this on release and over the near term. Drink from 2026-2034. 88-90 Pts.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Delicate hints of cloves, black cherries, ripe plums, with orange zest underneath. Juicy, elegant, ripe cherry fruit, integrated tannins, good complexity, shows some length and certain ageing potential.

The bouquet offers lovely fruity intensity, with the ageing also making itself felt, yet without taking over. Juicy and charming on the attack, the wine is linear, sleek and endowed with structuring tannins. It can be enjoyed in its youth.

Tangy framework. The nose suggests rusticity, but on the palate the wine is finer, with a hint of indulgence. The nose opens further with powerful notes of hyacinth, licorice stick, and sap. A characterful wine with a lovely chew on the finish. Its release onto the market is one to watch.