Chateau Belgrave 2018
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Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
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Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert -
Dunnuck
Jeb
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
This 2018 Belgrave, with a classic Medoc blend dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, is an exceptionnal wine, with great depth, density, freshness, once again "very Saint-Julien".
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
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.
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Wine Enthusiast
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.
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Decanter
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. Drinking Window 2026 - 2042
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Wine Spectator
Pure and fresh, with floral lift to the beam of cassis and bitter cherry fruit. Mineral-edged finish.
Barrel Sample: 89-92 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 Belgrave reveals scents of crushed blackberries, wild blueberries and fresh blackcurrants with touches of damp soil, fungi, charcuterie and sautéed herbs. Full-bodied and completely packed with rich, black fruit layers, it has a solid foundation of firm, chewy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and earthy.
Barrel Sample: 89-91 -
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Château Belgrave is a hidden little gem that’s well worth seeking out. Darker fruits, roasted coffee, and earthy notes all emerge from this medium-bodied, juicy, focused Haut-Médoc that picks up more complex floral notes with time in the glass. It’s balanced, offers bright acidity and firm tannins, and will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age.
Barrel Sample: 89-91
Other Vintages
2022- Decanter
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Suckling
James
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Suckling
James - Decanter
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Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
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Suckling
James -
Dunnuck
Jeb - Vinous
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Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James -
Spectator
Wine -
Parker
Robert
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Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine -
Suckling
James - Decanter
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Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine - Decanter
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Parker
Robert
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Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James - Decanter
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Parker
Robert
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Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James
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Enthusiast
Wine -
Suckling
James
Included as a 5th growth in the 1855 classification thanks to the quality of its deep gravel soil, Chateau Belgrave has been managed by the negociant firm of Dourthe since 1979. An attractive 18th century hunting lodge surrounded by sixty hectares of vines in a single block, Belgrave is located in the commune of Saint-Laurent, separated from the Saint-Julien appellation only by a small stream.
A great deal of work, passion, and energy have gone into producing wines worthy of one of the finest terroirs in the Medoc. The vineyard has been entirely renovated and is looked after with great care and attention.
The aging cellar was also refurbished in 2007 in an unabashedly modern style epitomising the rebirth of the estate. Thanks to this in-depth modernization and expert care, Chateau Belgrave is now among the elite of Medoc great growths.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
One of the most—if not the most—famous red wine regions of the world, the Medoc reaches from the city of Bordeaux northwest along the left bank of the Gironde River almost all the way to the Atlantic. Its vineyards climb along a band of flatlands, sandwiched between the coastal river marshes and the pine forests in the west. The entire region can only claim to be three to eight miles wide (at its widest), but it is about 50 miles long.
While the Medoc encompasses the Haut Medoc, and thus most of the classed-growth villages (Margaux, Moulis, Listrac, St-Julien, Pauillac and St. Estephe) it is really only those wines produced in the Bas-Medoc that use the Medoc appellation name. The ones farther down the river, and on marginally higher ground, are eligible to claim the Haut Medoc appellation, or their village or cru status.
While the region can’t boast a particularly dramatic landscape, impressive chateaux disperse themselves among the magically well-drained gravel soils that define the area. This optimal soil draining capacity is completely necessary and ideal in the Medoc's damp, maritime climate. These gravels also serve well to store heat in cooler years.