Château Belgrave 2025

Juicy and lively, supple and fleshy with a strawberry juice vein – a little chalky still on the mid-palate – just losing some of the initial vibrancy but this has lots of tannin presence with a long, salty, cola grip. I like the depth and the frame, this is one that will benefit from ageing. Cool wild blueberry notes on the nose. Fully tannic but bouncy and soft, really cushioning with blueberry. I like the purity and focus, it’s a little light in terms of persistence but there’s balance and it'll round out. Harvest 3rd September until the 19th. 13%. A yield of 24hl/ha. Pénélope Godefroy now technical director across the Maison Dourthe portfolio.

Tobacco, currants, licorice, flowers, and smoke create the essence of this wine. Medium-bodied, sweet, fresh, lively, and creamy, the vibrant, currant-packed finish lets you know this is already quite nice, and it will only get better as it ages. Drink from 2030-2055. 92-94 Pts

Deep plum colour, clear intensity and juice, this has the slate and graphite texture of the Left Bank coupled with well handled and impressive crayon, graphite, and cassis character. Harvest September 3 to 19. 32% new oak. Tasted twice, clear austerity that is consistent with an En Primeur sample. First year Penelope Godefroy technical director across the Dourthe Vignobles. 24hl/ha yield.

What precision and depth in the bouquet of Belgrave 2025! Everything is in the detail, with nothing excessive. A superb symbiosis of licorice, eucalyptus, blackcurrant and mint notes. Creamy on the attack, the wine stands out for its linear profile and the fleshy framework that supports its vigor. The acidic structure clearly plays its part, bringing freshness and drive, yet in a decidedly subtle way. A very fine success.

Deep, almost black color with purple highlights. Intense nose with ripe fruit aromas. Precise on the attack, highly aromatic on the mid-palate, with a new structure—never so rhythmic and accurate—the wine develops into a long, flavorful finish driven by vibrant fruit. Very good. Blend: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 13%.

Deep, dark color; a deep nose with cool stone, blackberries, sour cherries, dried oregano. On the palate it’s powerful and dense, very opulent; pronounced, slightly powdery tannins support the fruit. The mid-palate is not quite as full-bodied as the attack, while a fine acidity brings freshness; the finish is of good length. Should gain even more with aging.