Chateau Berliquet 2018

Professional Ratings

• 94 James Suckling

  Blackberry, plum, blueberry and some stone and crushed cement on the nose. Full body with firm, chewy and ultra fine tannins that will soften nicely. I like the lightly smoked nuts and chocolate. Needs time to come around. Try after 2025.

• 93 Decanter

  Powerful and plush as it opens after an initial moment of full-on austerity. This needs a good 30 minutes in the glass to really open, and I suggest giving it a full eight to 10 years in bottle before it reaches the right moment to start drinking. This was the first full year for the Canon team, and the work will take another few years to fully show results, but this has clear blueberry and raspberry fruits, structured tannins and a density that comes from the clay that is shot through the limestone in the vineyard. Harvested around two weeks earlier than under the previous owner.

• 93 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

  The 2018 Berliquet is composed of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc and has 14.5% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple in color, it slowly unfurls in the glass to reveal a classic nose of ripe black plums, wild blueberries and pencil shavings with hints of unsmoked cigars, tilled soil and red roses. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of blue and black fruit preserves, supported by plush tannins and impressive freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. Since the Chanel takeover and under Nicolas Audebert’s direction, the development of this site and the wine are truly impressive. I suspect a lot of selection has gone into making this 2018, and the results reveal a top-tier Saint-Émilion in the making.

• 93 Wine Enthusiast

  Under the same winemaking team as Château Canon, this wine shows richness, with swathes of ripe black-fruited Merlot and a licorice character. Bold, ripe flavors are warm and opulent, mitigated by fresher black-currant acidity at the end. Drink from 2026.

• 92 Wine Spectator
  This is delightful, with a fine chalky thread running through the middle of gently crushed plum and black cherry fruit flavors while sweet tobacco and bay accents hang in the background. Sneaky long. Merlot and Cabernet Franc.
• 91 Jeb Dunnuck

  Coming from the team at Canon and a blend of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château Berliquet sports a dense purple hue as well as a classic Saint-Emilion, mineral-driven bouquet of red and black cherries, chocolate, graphite, roasted herbs, and chalky, rocky nuances. A big, rich, dense 2018, it has chewy tannins, good mid-palate depth, and outstanding length. Rating: 91+