Berliquet 2019 75cl

The 2019 Berliquet is showing beautifully, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries, wild berries, sweet spices, violets and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and elegant, with terrific depth at the core, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, it concludes with a long, mineral finish. It's produced from a 9.5-hectare vineyard that encompasses three soil types: Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau (like its sibling, Château Canon); the slope, characterized by deep clay; and then sandy, colluvial soils at the foot of the slope. Right now it's planted with 70% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc, but the percentage of the latter is increasing as replanting progresses.

Dark plums, baked blueberries, chocolate, lemon zest and sage on the nose. Medium-bodied with vibrant acidity and fine, sleek tannins. Fresh and focused with a pretty finish. Drink after 2024.

Friendly in feel, with a rounded edge to the mix of plum, cassis and black cherry preserve flavors. Features a melted licorice snap note that drapes over the finish, with flickers of savory and chalky minerality adding nice contrast. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2036. — JM