2019 Belgrave
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2019 Belgrave has a backward, quite austere nose with plenty of tobacco and graphite scents that crowd out the fruit to its detriment. The palate is more outgoing with juicy red fruit and a countervailing bitter edge, but it doesn't quite kick on towards the finish and leaves you wanting more. The bottle from last year certainly showed better than this. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Deep, dark crimson. Lifted, quite fragrant nose with quite generous fruit and lightly pinched tannins on the end. Better than some of its peers. (JR)
Leather, liquorice, black cherry – fine but high tannins and high acid. Furry, firm style where ripe fruit provides sufficient balance. (RH)
Coming from the Dourthe family of wines, the 2019 Château Belgrave has a deeper ruby/plum color to go 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.
About the producer
With deep gravel soils and lying just across a stream from Saint-Julien, this Fifth Growth has been managed by the négociant Dourthe since 1979 – bringing expertise that has helped deliver on the site’s potential.