Château Belle-Vue 2020

Open-knit, with gently mulled plum and blackberry notes laced with singed sandalwood, dark tea and anise. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Carmenère. Drink now through 2026. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 6,200 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Cru bourgeois exceptionnel. Now Australian-owned, by Treasury. 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenère. Deep gravel soils. Yield 40 hl/ha. Aged for 14–16 months in 30% new barrels. 75,000 bottles. Unusually high in Cabernet. Very deep purplish crimson – almost looks Australian! Sweet and round and obviously much-worked in the winery. Very different from its neighbours with acidity less notable and fruit and tannin more so. Big, beefy and a bit 20th century. A very distinctive style! (JR)

The 2020 Belle-Vue feels a bit green and lacks real complexity on the nose. The palate is better, with a sous-bois-infused opening, though it lacks finesse and feels static on the finish.

The nose, with its flowers, cherries and herbs, gets things going. The palate is medium-bodied, with ample fruit, and a strong, savory, herbal and chalky, green-olive character on the finish. It is interesting to note that Belle-Vue is one of the few Bordeaux wines produced using 5 allowable grape varieties. Drink from 2024–2038.

Dark core with a purple hue. Fragrant Cabernet notes of cassis, cherry, ripe herbs and tobacco with discreet oak underneath. Good grip and texture, youthful but ripe extract with savoury dark berry flavours, finely spicy with balanced oak and a long, fresh finish.

Love this property, now under Treasury Wine Estates ownership, consistently delivering excellence and character at the Cru Bourgeois level. Slate and crayon notes, this has texture and grip, push-pull tannins, plenty of structure holding the blackcurrant and bilberry fruits in place without constricting them. Edges of green tomato, this is impressive, will age but no need to wait.

The 2020 Haut-Medoc Belle-vue has a deep garnet-purple color. It gives up scents of tar, dried herbs, and crushed rocks, over a core of baked plums and blackcurrants. Medium-bodied, the palate is firm and chewy, with muscular black fruits and an earthy finish.

Vinified by the former team, this 2020 is serious and in the style that has made this cru successful. The nose is open and enticing. On the palate, it shows lovely balance, with melted, silky tannins that carry the finish.

Belle-Vue confirms the excellent level announced during the en primeur tasting. It plays on different registers, both on the nose and on the palate. The bouquet reveals notes of wild berries and Sichuan pepper, complemented by a touch of tea leaves. Lively and juicy, the wine has fleshy tannins that provide solid support alongside the acidic structure. The whole still needs to come together, but the path is set and it’s a safe bet this wine is far from having had its last word!