Château Berliquet 2018

"This was really Nicolas Audebert’s first vintage at Berliquet, since the property was acquired by Chanel in the autumn of 2017. The most significant, immediate change from 2018 came from noticing that blocks of the vineyard had Merlot and Cabernet Franc interplanted. These used to be harvested together. This year the different cultivars were flagged and harvested separately so as to achieve optimal ripeness for both varieties. The 2018 Berliquet is blended of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc and has 14.5% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with bold kirsch, blueberry compote and Black Forest cake with touches of cloves, lavender, menthol and lilacs. Medium to full-bodied and elegant, with lovely freshness lifting the densely packed blue and black fruit flavors, it has a velvety texture and long, earthy finish." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (4/23/2019, Bordeaux 2018 Issue), Rating: (93-95)+

 "Leafy herbs, damp earth, spring flowers, and beautiful dark fruits emerge from the 2017 Chateau Berliquet, which is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc coming from a terroir just down the hill from Canon. Medium-bodied, with solid mid-palate concentration, present tannins, and a good mix of both richness and freshness, it's going to benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age and keep for 8-10 years or more." - Jeb Dunnuck, Jebdunnuck.com, Rating: 90, Maturity: 2022-2032