2021 Belgrave
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Extremely deep crimson. Complete impression on the nose. Lots of acid but lots of fruit and a fair amount of tannin, too. A dry finish with a little greenness, but it should come right in the end. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
The 2021 Château Belgrave is solid, with a complex, perfumed, medium-bodied style as well as ripe yet building tannins, a supple, layered mouthfeel, the fresh, focused style of the vintage, and spicy, leathery, savory herb-tinged aromas and flavors. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot, aged 12 months in barrel.
The 2021 Belgrave, bottled in June 2023, has an impressive bouquet with dried iris flower, blackberry, cedar and light graphite aromas that seem to gain delineation with time in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp, slightly chalky tannins, sufficient black fruit and a touch of black pepper toward the finish. Classic in style, drink this over the next decade.
The 2021 Belgrave is gorgeous. Dark, sensual and inviting, the 2021 impresses with its total sense of poise. Cabernet Sauvignon plays the leading role. Belgrave lies just outside Saint-Julien, and its wines share some obvious similarities with those of its famous neighbors, starting with its distinctive blue/purplish fruit profile. Blackberry, mocha, licorice, spice and menthol fill out the layers effortlessly, building into a deep, beautifully resonant finish.
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.