Château Belgrave 2018

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Belgrave reveals notes of redcurrant jelly, cassis and pencil shavings, plus touches of lavender, damp soil and tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate has appealing freshness, lifted by attractive herbal accents and framed with chewy tannins, finishing savory.

Friendly cassis and warmed cherry notes have a lightly steeped edge, while tobacco and warm earth accents fill in through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2025. 18,830 cases made.

Enjoyable depth and power. This has walls of spice and smoke set against powerful cassis and bilberry, and plenty of Haut-Médoc signature. Oak notes also, but well-integrated even at this young stage. Enjoyable with plenty of life ahead of it.

Blackberry, blackcurrant leaf, vanilla, crushed hazelnut and gravel on the nose. Violets, too. It’s medium-bodied with firm, integrated tannins. Chewy and polished. Cool and mineral with a tight finish. Give it some time. Try from 2024.

The 2018 Belgrave has a tightly wound bouquet of blackberry, damp earth, freshly rolled tobacco and a very light marine influence. The palate is sweet on the entry with saturated tannins and plenty of ripe black cherry and strawberry fruit, although it needs a little more complexity on the finish.

Clearly a contender for the best wine ever produced here, the wine is round, full-bodied, fresh, and filled with currants, thyme, forest leaf, and tobacco. The wine has depth of flavor and a big blast of sweet, chewy fruits on the palate and in the finish. You should age this for at least 5 years and enjoy it over the next 15–20 years with ease.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening at the rim. Tobacco nuances, black cherry, ripe plum, some nougat, pleasant fine oak spice. Juicy, ripe sweet cherry also on the palate, elegant and pronounced fruit, well-integrated tannins, mineral and persistent, salty finish, will improve further, definite ageing potential.

Always a solid, well-made wine, the 2018 Château Belgrave sports a darker ruby/purple color as well as attractive notes of black cherries, redcurrants, sandalwood, leafy tobacco, and cedar. It's medium-bodied and has a soft, supple texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. Readers looking for a terrific, charming, classic Bordeaux won't regret buying a few bottles.

Kunz barrel sample 19: (68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot) Velvety, dense, fresh, and powerful bouquet; blue and black berries, fine woods, licorice, delicate caramel, toasted notes. Tightly knit, elegant, fresh palate with dense dark fruit, complex and powerful aromas, creamy fruit, plenty of fine tannins, long, fresh finish.

(68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot) Silky, dense, fresh and powerful bouquet, blue and black berries, fine woods, licorice, delicate caramel, roasted notes. Tightly knit, elegant, fresh palate with concentrated dark fruit, complex and vigorous aromatics, creamy fruit, plenty of fine tannins, long, fresh finish. 18/20 2026 - 2050

The 2018 Belgrave is deep garnet purple in color. It features blackcurrants, black cherries, and mulberries, with hints of dried mint, cedar, and tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm and chewy, with a lively line and muscular fruit, finishing with a mineral lift.

Right from the start, Belgrave’s bouquet sets the tone. Beyond its red hue, it is intensely fruity and highly inviting. Of course, it’s still in the starting blocks and may show a touch of reduction, but given the intentions it displays, it will benefit from it. On the palate, the freshness of the attack and the breadth of the tannins create harmony. The wine has breadth, body, and temperament. Such dimension and such promise. A great success at Belgrave.

The nose is fresh and aromatic, offering intensity, a lovely fine grain, concentration, power, and a subtle austere edge. It reveals notes of ripe wild blackcurrant, wild black berries, and, more subtly, grey pepper, combined with small touches of lily, wild strawberry, and violet, as well as subtle hints of spices, cherry blossom, licorice, and a very discreet hint of tea. The palate is fruity and delivers juiciness, minerality, a touch of freshness, fine density, smoothness, and a fine grain. It shows notes of vibrant cherry, crushed blackberry, and, more delicately, juicy/pulpy strawberry, along with touches of violet and lily, plus hints of zan, fresh blond tobacco, vanilla, a very discreet touch of camphor, and cocoa. The tannins are well-handled. A subtle hint of roast and vanilla lingers on the finish.

Imposing, with a rich, full-bodied palate, the 2018 is closed for now. It reveals abundant ripe, generous tannins with a sweet-edged feel. It needs time to settle.

This estate bordering Margaux has produced a rich, well-balanced wine. Classic black-currant flavors shine, with tannins playing a major supporting part. With its succulent texture and ripe fruits, the wine should age well over the medium term. Drink from 2025.