Chateau Berliquet Saint-Emilion 2012 92pts

The 9 hectare vineyard of Chateau Berliquet is very close to the famous Chateau Angelus on the Magdelaine plateau. The soil is mostly of clay, chalk and limestone with old vines close to 40 years old planted. Aged in 50% new French oak barrels for approximately 15 months. Much investment has been put into the property as they now use optical sorting, along with new sorting tables, increased number of vats to allow for vinification on a block by block and grape varietal basis. This is a great estate from St. Emilion to follow and the 2012 vintage is a good representation of such good work.

92 points Wine Enthusiast
Powerful and fruity, this finely situated chateau on the edge of the slopes of Saint-Émilion has produced a brightly fruity wine typical of the year. It's a wine that's ripe with berries, soft tannins and great juiciness.

91 points James Suckling
This shows an incredible fresh tobacco character as well as berries and mushrooms. Full and structured. Needs two or three years to soften.

90 Points Vinous Media
The 2012 Berliquet is quite attractive. Succulent dark cherries, menthol, licorice and new leather are all pushed forward. The 2012 is open-knit and generous, with good up-front appeal, and enough underlying structure to drink well for at least a decade, perhaps longer. Beams of supporting tannin shape the expressive finish. Another year or two in bottle can only help. The blend is 75% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 3% Cabernet Sauvignon. Nicolas Thienpont and his team led by David Suire oversee Berliquet, with additional input from consultants Stéphane Derenoncourt and Julien Lavenu.

Wine Notes
A lush, value wine made by the Nicolas Thienpont group (as is Pavie Macquin, Larcis Ducasse, Poujeaux, etc.). Fabulous nose, expressive of Cabernet. Fresh fruit with tannins that add the right amount of strength and interest. Unusually intense and long finish for vintage 2012. Great value!

Cabernet Sauvignon 5% , Merlot 65% , Cabernet Franc 30%