Château Belgrave 2018

Characteristics and tasting advice for Château Belgrave 2018

Tasting

Color

With a deep purple hue and violet highlights, the color reflects the vintage’s excellent concentration.

Nose

The nose reveals lovely aromatic complexity, with notes of blackcurrant and blueberries, alongside hints of violets. Touches of cedar, graphite and light tobacco enrich the bouquet, while subtle aromas of roasted coffee and licorice add an extra dimension.

Palate

On the palate, the wine unveils a well-balanced structure combining power and finesse. The fine-grained, velvety tannins integrate harmoniously, carried by a vibrant freshness. The palate expresses flavors of very ripe black fruits, black pepper and sweet spices, with mineral notes that linger through a long, elegant finish.

Food and wine pairings

This wine is a perfect match for grilled or roasted red meats, a herb-crusted rack of lamb or duck breast. It also pairs very well with characterful cheeses such as aged Comté.

Serving and cellaring

Château Belgrave 2018 is best enjoyed at a temperature between 15 and 18°C. Decanting for around one hour is recommended to allow the wine to fully open up. This vintage can be enjoyed through around 2032.

A rich and elegant 5th Grand Cru Classé from Haut-Médoc

The estate

Founded in 1845 by Bruno Devez, Château Belgrave is a 5th Grand Cru Classé of 1855 located in the heart of the Médoc, in Bordeaux, on 60 hectares of deep gravel soils, at the gates of 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 estate’s original role as a former hunting lodge.

The vineyard

The vineyard of Château Belgrave covers 59 hectares in the Haut-Médoc, on the edge of the Saint-Julien appellation. The terroir is characterized by rises of deep gravel and ancient pebbles resting on a clay subsoil. These two rises reach 26 and 23 meters in altitude, creating microclimates favorable to the gradual ripening of the grapes. Proximity to the Gironde and the oceanic influence bring a moderating freshness that preserves the wines’ natural balance.

The vintage

The 2018 vintage took shape under particularly favorable climatic conditions. After a cool start to the season, summer offered a remarkable balance between warmth and water availability. The three weeks preceding harvest were marked by hot, dry weather, allowing for excellent berry concentration and maximum aromatic intensity. The harvest period unfolded over four weeks, making it possible to pick each plot at optimal ripeness. This vintage is considered one of the greatest of the 21st century.

Winemaking and aging

Winemaking for Château Belgrave 2018 was carried out on a parcel-by-parcel basis in 33 temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats and 6 wooden vats. A pre-fermentation cold soak was performed depending on the lots, followed by alcoholic fermentation with carefully adjusted daily pump-overs and punch-downs. Malolactic fermentation took place partially in barrels. Aging for Château Belgrave 2018 lasted between 12 and 14 months in French oak barrels, with a proportion of new oak between 40% and 60%, allowing subtle integration of oak aromas without masking the wine’s natural fruit expression.

Grape varieties

Cabernet Sauvignon (68%), Merlot (30%), Petit Verdot (2%)