Château Belgrave 2019

Juicy and compact, with a well-built set of cassis, plum, roasted apple wood, warm earth and licorice root notes all working well together. Shows a burly tug and good energy on the finish, too. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2030. 18,000 cases made, 450 cases imported.

Dark bramble fruit profile on the nose. The texture stands out, so delicious, generous and welcoming, with almost crunchy black fruit here rather than chewy, with dry, grippy tannins that coat the mouth, underpinned by well-balanced acidity that gives the wine life. It's plush, no doubt, and the tannins need to soften and expand a little, but I love the initial rush of juice and the long, cherry finish.

Structured with layers of tannins that are chewy yet polished and powerful. Full-bodied yet remains intense. Currant and fresh flower flavors. Give it time to come together. 62% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot and the rest petit verdot. This needs time. Best ever? Try after 2024.

The 2019 Belgrave is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was en primeur. Dark, bold and savory, the 2019 is fabulous from the very first taste. Wild black cherry, lavender, spice and dried herbs build in a Haut-Médoc that is positively stellar in every way. I loved it.

Flowers, tobacco leaf, plums, smoke, espresso and cassis create the complex aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is fresh, crisp, juicy and loaded with sweet, black and red berries with a spicy kick and a touch of coffee bean in the round, supple-textured finish. This could be the best Belgrave I have ever tasted. Drink from 2024-2039.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Ripe dark cherries, a hint of blackberries, subtle herbal spice, a touch of precious wood. Juicy, subtle sweetness, ripe cherries, fine, well-integrated tannins, elegant and persistent, subtle nougat on the finish, mineral, good freshness, already developed and approachable.

Fine oak and butterscotch blended with darker fruit and freshly crushed berry notes. Medium weight with a youthful bite, some tannic presence, fresh acidity and rather long finish, a restrained style still needing time for further ageing.

Coming from the Dourthe family of wines, the 2019 Château Belgrave has a deeper ruby/plum color with ripe yet savory aromatics of darker cherries, chocolate, toasted spice, and dried herbs. This meaty, chewy, admirably concentrated, and medium- to full-bodied Haut-Médoc will drink well for 10–15 years.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot) Silky, dense, elegant bouquet, black berries, currants, fine woods, roasted coffee beans, Black Currant. Tightly woven, powerful palate with dense dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, an elegant, finely muscled structure, complex dark aromatics, very long, dense, dark finish with plenty of lingering flavors.

(62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot) Silky, dense, elegant bouquet, black berries, currants, noble woods, roasted coffee beans, Black Currant. Tightly woven, powerful palate with dense, dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, an elegant, finely muscular structure, complex dark aromatics, a very long, dense, dark finish with extensive lingering flavors. 18/20 2026 - 2050

Flint and gunsmoke on the first nose; in the glass, tightly wound tannins provide a confident, if angular, frame, and plenty of black fruits that open up through the mid-palate. Measured and enjoyable. Harvest from 19 September to 10 October, 32% new oak.

The 2019 Belgrave is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It has medicinal, herbal notes on the nose to start off, leading to notions of crushed blackcurrants and blackberries, with a waft of damp soil. The medium-bodied palate is herbal, hard, and rustic, with a bitter finish.

Black color, excellent body, tannins perfectly integrated into the texture, good oak, a slight lack of pure finesse compared with some peers, for now. Very good value for money.

A fresh, elegant nose, the perfect expression of its terroir close to that of Saint-Julien). On the palate, there is deep dark fruit, sweetness, and a heady character. A suave, slender wine.

Wine with a fruity, suave nose and a pleasant, round, and flattering palate. Soft tannins. Medium length.

This major 145-acre estate is on top form. Filled with impressive black fruits, this new release offers a structure with plenty of potential. Its weight and solid tannins are balanced by the fruit and juicy acidity. Drink from 2026.