Château Berliquet 2024 en Primeur

Juicy and fresh with a fun aspect straight away - gorgeous lift and just generous acidity which gives this a happy expression. It’s not heavy of course, it’s lightweight but so pure and focussed with a real sense of brightness and almost sweetness with blueberry, cranberry and raspberry flavours alongside orange rind and some chalkiness. Great purity. Dangerously drinkable. A tremendous effort that shows the vineyard work and precision viticulture is paying off. Ageing 37% new barrels, 22% amphorae for 16 to 18 months. 3.37pH. First year of organics. A yield of 42hl/ha.

The 2024 Château Berliquet comes from slightly more clay soils compared to its stablemate, Canon, and is always a bigger, richer wine. Darker black cherries, tobacco, scorched earth, and hints of chocolate all emerge from this incredibly successful 2024. It's medium-bodied, has plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe tannins, and outstanding length. The blend is 60% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Malbec, all of which will spend 16-18 months in 37% new barrels and 22% in amphora, from 43 hectoliters per hectare, hitting 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.37.

A fresh and vivid wine with sliced lemons, lemongrass, pine needles and some red cherries. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and a tangy finish. Attractive energy to this. Nice depth. 60% merlot, 39% cabernet franc and 1% malbec.

The 2024 Berliquet was picked from 20 September to 3 October at 43 hl/ha and aged in 37% new oak, 22% amphoras. This has a much more oyster-tinged, black olive-scented bouquet that distinguishes it from the 2024 Canon. It's quite intense in style. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, although I find them not as chiseled as the Canon's. It has good weight and substance on the finish in the context of the season, but this will require two or three years in bottle and should then drink well for fifteen to twenty more. Neal Martin.

Unwinding in the glass with brooding aromas of cassis, raspberries, rose petals, violets and pencil shavings, the 2024 Berliquet is medium to full-bodied, polished and muscular, with broad shoulders and a dense, chalky core. It's a blend of 60% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Franc and (a new addition) 1% Malbec. This estate continues to stand out next to is stablemate, Canon, for its more powerful style and darker fruit profile.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Delicate red berry bouquet, a hint of sweet cherries, nuances of figs, soft notes of rose petals. Slender, fine cherry fruit, pleasant acidity, balanced, already developed and approachable.