Château Belgrave 2020

Tasting Notes and Serving Tips for Château Belgrave 2020

Tasting

Color
With a deep red hue, almost black, this wine displays intense violet highlights. This dark color attests to the remarkable concentration of the vintage.

Nose
The bouquet opens with powerful aromas of licorice and candied black fruit. With aeration, it reveals notes of blackcurrant, plum, smoky earth, and tobacco, accompanied by touches of dark chocolate. Hints of cedar, sweet spices, and aromatic herbs round out this complex aromatic palette, while a menthol freshness adds vibrancy to the whole.

Palate
Juicy and supple, the palate offers a lovely fruity expression supported by an elegant minerality. The tannins, fine and firm, coat the mouth with a velvety texture despite their assertive presence. The structure is round and generous, with a refreshing acidity that brings balance and tension. The finish is remarkably long and persistent, extending the aromas of black fruit and minerality.

Food and Wine Pairing
This wine pairs perfectly with grilled or roasted red meats, such as beef tenderloin with vegetables or a grilled rib steak. It also elegantly accompanies herb-crusted lamb preparations, roast duck, or game dishes. Mushroom lovers will appreciate its match with dishes featuring porcini mushrooms or truffles. This wine also pairs very well with certain spicy Asian preparations. For cheese, opt for aged hard cheeses such as Comté or Cantal.

Serving and Cellaring
Château Belgrave 2020 benefits from being decanted one to two hours before serving to allow the aromas to fully express themselves. Ideally serve between 17 and 18°C. This wine can be enjoyed from 2025 and will keep until around 2042 under good cellar conditions.

A Powerful and Elegant Haut-Médoc, the Expression of a Great Bordeaux Terroir

The Estate
Founded in 1845 by Bruno Devez, Château Belgrave is a 1855 5ème Grand Cru Classé located in the heart of the Médoc, in Bordeaux, on 60 hectares of deep gravel soils, at the gateway to Saint-Julien. At the beginning of the 20th century, Marcel Alibert definitively established the name “Belgrave” and distinguished himself in defending the classified growths. Since 1979, the estate has belonged to Maison Dourthe. The ferret on the label recalls the former hunting lodge the estate originally was.

The Vineyard
The Château Belgrave vineyard spans 59 hectares in the commune of Saint-Laurent, in Haut-Médoc, in the immediate vicinity of the Saint-Julien appellation. The vines grow on deep gravel soils mixed with clay, sand, and limestone, offering exceptional drainage. The terroir is made up of two hillsides reaching elevations of 23 and 26 meters. The grape varieties favor cabernet sauvignon (50%), planted on the highest areas, and merlot (49%), which thrives on the clay-sandy sections, complemented by a small proportion of petit verdot (1%).

The Vintage
The 2020 vintage stands out as an exceptional year in Bordeaux. After a mild winter, early budbreak was followed by a wet spring that increased downy mildew pressure. Summer was marked by successive heatwaves and pronounced drought, reducing berry size and naturally concentrating phenolic compounds. This yield reduction of around twenty-five percent resulted in remarkable quality. September offered ideal conditions, with dry, sunny weather and cool nights that helped preserve acidity while continuing ripening. Harvest took place between September 10 and 24, producing wines of exceptional concentration and balance.

Vinification and Aging
Château Belgrave 2020 underwent plot-by-plot vinification in 33 temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks and 6 oak foudres. After cold soaking to allow gentle extraction of aromas and tannins, fermentations were carried out with precision thanks to temperature control. The cellar operates by gravity, thus preserving the integrity of the wine’s components. Aging took place over twelve months in French oak barrels, with around 30% new oak, adding structure and complexity without masking the expression of the fruit and terroir.

Grape Varieties
Cabernet sauvignon (53%), merlot (44%), petit verdot (3%)