Berliquet - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2017

Wine Advocate

94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Berliquet gives up expressive notes of baked plums, blackberry preserves and mulberries with hints of licorice, crushed rocks, chargrilled meat and wild sage. Medium-bodied, the palate has a great core of elegantly played flavors framed by soft, plush tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and minerally. The blend is 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc and it was aged for 18 months in French oak, 50% new. Drinking Window : 2021 - 2039

Vinous

90

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 Berliquet has really come together nicely over the course of its élevage. From bottle, the 2017 shows terrific freshness and nuance to match its mid-weight personality. Sweet red cherry fruit, tobacco, cedar, spice and licorice are pushed forward in a sensual, open-knit Saint-Émilion that will drink well right out of the gate. More than anything else, the 2017 shows a lot of potential for the future. It is the first wine vinified by Nicolas Audebert and his team, but most of the important farming decisions had already been made by the time Chanel acquired the estate, so the 2017 is really a wine of transition. Tasted three times.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Alluring, featuring steeped plum, boysenberry and red currant fruit that melds slowly with singed mesquite, bramble, sanguine and rooibos tea notes. Offers a long and detailed finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2034. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

92

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

Some berries and smoke with stone and tar. Full-bodied, creamy and beautifully crafted. Tight and focused. A little lean, but shows balance and juiciness. Bitter lemon and smoke at the end. A blend of 70% merlot and 30% cabernet franc. Try after 2022.

Jeb DUNNUCK

88-90

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

Made by the team at Canon, the 2017 Château Berliquet is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Solid notes of black cherries, scorched earth, graphite, and violets give way to a rich, medium-bodied, nicely concentrated red that's going to put on weight with time in barrel and bottle. It has good acidity, the fresh, moderately concentrated style of the vintage, and a clean finish. It has outstanding potential and should drink nicely for upwards of a decade. Tasted twice.

Vinifera

93-95

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Très beau nez, fruit nuancé, tirant sur le floral (iris, rose), on est face à un vin avec de la race et de la classe, presque un côté bourguignon que l’on retrouve en bouche. Le calcaire donne des tanins poudrés et une magnifique salinité.

Vinous

86-89

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Berliquet is quite dense and powerful, but also a bit rough around the edges. It will be interesting to see if aging helps soften some of the angular contours that are present today. There is good depth to the red-toned fruit, but the wine is not fully put together. This is the first vintage overseen by Nicolas Audebert following Chanel's acquisition of the estate. Berliquet is going to require quite a bit of investment and work.

The Wine Cellar Insider

90-92

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Medium/full bodied with sweet, juicy plums, a fervent dollop of minerality and a dazzling plummy endnote, the wine is made from blending 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc.

Vinous

88-90

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Berliquet, which is matured in new oak, has quite a pure black cherry and iodine bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity, quite harmonious if just missing a little complexity towards the finish. This Saint-Émilion is more about the silky texture that I hope will be in situ after bottling.

Wine Advocate

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

Deep purple-black in color, the 2017 Berliquet has a lovely perfume of violets, pencil lead and baking spices over a core of kirsch, wild blueberries and red currant jelly plus a waft of underbrush. Medium-bodied, fine and fresh in the mouth with firm, chewy tannins, it's elegant and perfumed with a long finish.

Decanter.com

90

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

The chocolate and mint nose leads into an attractive palate, fairly dense if a touch short. It's a well-balanced and enjoyable wine from a new team led by Nicolas Audebert, who took over after the estate was purchased in late July 2017, and with Thomas Duclos consulting. Among other tweaks, they have adjusted the ageing time to reduce the impact of the oak. This is from clay-limestone soils, close to Canon but mostly on slopes, whereas Canon is mostly on the plateau. Currently, every plot is planted with both Cabernet Franc and Merlot, but they will be planning to raise the percentage of Cab Franc slightly. Unaffected by frost in 2017.
Drinking Window 2025 - 2038

WeinWisser

17

byRené Gabrielthe4/25/2018

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,5

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

Some berry and spice character and a salty undertone. Medium body and a fresh finish. Firm and silky tannins. Shows some drive at the end. This is the first year from the owners of Canon.

Wine Spectator

89-92

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

Bright, with floral and tea nuances out front, followed by blood orange and damson plum fruit. Offers a sleek, mineral-edged finish.—J.M.