2019 Château Berliquet, St.-Émilion: Release offer, £402 IB per dozen
In 2017 the 9-hectare Berliquet estate was purchased by Chanel, joining Canon and Rauzan-Ségla. With vineyards adjoining Canon, this was an excellent opportunity to expand their holdings in St.-Emilion. Berliquet is run as a separate estate, but with the 2018 vintage we saw a definite step-change in the style. Tasting it at Canon we were impressed by the move towards elegance and a silky-textured refinement. Clearly there is still some way to go before the concentration and complexity of Canon is equalled, but the clay-rich soils here do being plenty of character of their own. Jane Anson awards the 2019 93 points, equalling her score for the 2018.
At the time of release, samples have not been sent outside of Bordeaux, so Anson is the only key critic to have scored the wine.
Offered en primeur, ex-chateau, due to land in the UK in Spring 2022. Priced in bond, excluding UK duty, VAT and onward delivery, payable at the prevailing rate on release from bond. Stock subject to availability, E&OE.
Producer Profile
Château Berliquet, St.-Émilion Grand Cru Classé
Château Berliquet is a Grand Cru Classé St.-Émilion estate, founded in 1768, making it one of the oldest estates in the region. It was also one of the first estates to sell the wine under its own name, with records dating to 1784.
In 2007 Nicolas Thienpont and Stéphane Derenoncourt started working here as consultants. Optical sorting was introduced with the 2009 vintage and the estate also recently purchased two new back-to-back sorting tables and increased the number of vats in their cellars to allow the estate to vinify on a block-by-block and grape varietal by varietal basis.
In July 2017 Berliquet to the Chanel Group, joining neighbouring Chateau Canon, as well as Chateau Rauzan Segla in Margaux. Nicolas Audebert manages the property. The 10 hectares are vines are planted to 75% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. The terroir is clay, chalk and limestone soils. The vineyard has a vine density of 6,000 vines per hectare. The average vine age is around 40 years. The vineyard is one large, single block of vines, with the best parcels on the limestone plateau. An average of 3,500 cases are produced each year.
| RED | 2019 | 3 cases | Château Berliquet | 75cl | £395 per case of 12 | Château Berliquet 2019 / 3 cases / 75cl £395 per case of 12 |
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Tasting Notes"Vibrant damson in colour. I love the deep creaminess that is evident from the first nose, with hints of cocoa and gunsmoke. There is more clay here than at Canon; about 50% of the vineyard has a clay layer over the limestone whereas at Canon it is closer to 10%, meaning Berliquet is less ethereal, more urgent and powerful, still with precision and feathery chalky tannins. They have restored the underground limestone cellars for barrel ageing. A yield of 45hl/ha. 45% new oak, for what is the 2nd full year of the Canon team working the vineyard. Thomas Duclos consultant. Drinking Window 2026 - 2042. 93 points." Jane Anson, Decanter |
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