2020 Château Berliquet, St. Emilion Grand Cru
£218 per 6 bottle case in bond
Today Château Berliquet has been released at £218 per 6 bottle case in bond.
It is the first release of the trio of Châteaux under the ownership of Chanel, with Châteaux Canon and Rauzan-Ségla yet to be released. Château Berliquet – which may not have been on your radar before now – has undergone a dramatic shift in style and quality since being purchased by Chanel in 2018. It was a very logical purchase, as this 7.5-hectare vineyard is essentially on very similar terroir to Canon itself.
It is situated between two blocks of Canon’s vineyard on the limestone plateau with a more notable clay component in part of the Berliquet vineyard than is prevalent in the vineyards of Canon. Initially, there was speculation that this might be subsumed into Château Canon, but head winemaker Nicolas Audebert stated recently that he saw the Berliquet vineyard as distinct, bringing about a different character in the resultant wine. He also recognised three sections within the vineyard: one largely limestone, one deep clay and one an erosion of limestone with clay and sand.
I tasted Berliquet 2020 and was impressed – I believe this to be the finest Berliquet yet under Nicolas Audebert’s team. It shows the freshness and poise which we have come to associate with the Chanel stable of wines, floral notes, juicy blackberry and stone fruit with good volume and an earthy nuance as well as an attractive zesty note. With more spice-laden fruit than Canon, it finishes vibrant with an impressive juiciness to the fore leading to a fine, persistent finish.
Please see below for scores and notes from Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Advocate), Michael Schuster (World of Fine Wine) and Jane Anson (decanter.com).
2020 Château Berliquet, Grand Cru Classé, St-Emilion
£218 per 6 bottle case in bond
94-96, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate
The 2020 Berliquet is composed of 69% Merlot and 31% Cabernet Franc, weighing in at 14.5% alcohol. It is aging in French oak barrels, 50% new. Deep purple-black colored, it trots casually out of the glass with effortlessly flamboyant scents of stewed black cherries, warm plums and baked blackberries, plus hints of chocolate mint, violets and licorice with a touch of fertile loam. The medium to full-bodied palate is very tightly wound with layers of ripe black fruits and earthy accents, framed by finely grained tannins and tons of freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Drink 2026-2046
90-92, Michael Schuster, World of Fine Wine
A persistent nose of blackberry-ripe fruit; concentrated, vital in acidity, quite firm in tannin; long and ripely tasty, both fine and chewy at once, and with excellent length. You can taste the more clayey terroir here of Berliquet’s “Côte”; there is more matter than in Canon (made by the same team) and less finesse. That said, this is very good. Drink 2028 - 2040+
93 points, Jane Anson, decanter.com
A slightly cooler terroir than its sibling estate Château Canon, a little more clay-based which gives weight, depth and power while also being austere right now, with grippy tannins and a bite of blood orange. Great stuff, can start drinking this in five to six years to allow the structure to soften while keeping the appeal of the wild cherry and blackberry fruits. 50% new oak for 16 months.
Drink 2028 - 2042
Please let us know of your interest.
All the best,
Simon
