Château Berliquet 2020

Nestled in the prestigious Saint-Émilion appellation, Château Berliquet is one of the oldest estates located on the limestone plateau just outside the town, right next to Château Canon (see map below).  In the past decade, both properties were bought by the fashion house, Chanel, to form its wine portfolio.  The other famous name also owned by Chanel is the Left Bank property, Château Ranzan-Ségla.

In recent years, under the watchful management of the talented winemaking team headed by estate director Nicolas Audebert, all three wine estates have achieved the highest quality and recognition in their respective histories. Before assuming the role at the Chanel wine estates, Nicolas Audebert worked at Moët & Chandon, Krug, and Veuve Clicquot champagne houses. He then headed winemaking at Cheval des Andes in Argentina, the joint venture project between Château Chavel Blanc and Terrazas de Los Andes.

Château Berliquet is a symbol of elegance and tradition. Its vineyards, covering 9 hectares, are strategically located on the renowned clay-limestone plateau, enjoying an ideal south-facing exposure that captures the essence of the region's terroir. This historic estate has a rich heritage dating back centuries, contributing to its esteemed reputation.

Under the dedicated ownership of the Chanel Group since 2017, Château Berliquet has undergone a remarkable transformation. The Chanel fashion house, known for its commitment to craftsmanship and luxury, has brought its visionary approach to the estate. With meticulous attention to detail and deep respect for the estate's legacy, they have reinvigorated the vineyards and implemented sustainable viticultural practices.

At the helm of Château Berliquet, the talented team led by estate director Nicolas Audebert has embraced a philosophy combining tradition and innovation. He is also the head of nearby Château Canon. By working closely with the land, they strive to create wines that express the vineyard's unique character while pushing the boundaries of excellence. Collaborations with renowned oenologists and state-of-the-art winemaking techniques have further elevated the quality and finesse of the wines.

As a testament to the estate's evolution, Château Berliquet proudly unveils its new visual identity, capturing the essence of its rich heritage and embracing a modern aesthetic. The label reflects the timeless elegance and sophistication of the estate's wines. This visual transformation symbolizes the estate's commitment to pushing boundaries while staying true to its roots.

With each vintage, Château Berliquet showcases the unique expression of its terroir, offering a sensory journey that captures the essence of Saint-Émilion. The wines, characterized by their finesse, balance, and complexity, captivate wine enthusiasts worldwide. As Château Berliquet continues to write its story, it remains a beacon of excellence, perpetuating the legacy of this esteemed estate and cementing its place among the finest wines of Saint-Émilion.

"A brilliant success for this property in the ascendant, the 2020 Berliquet opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with hints of warm spices and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's vibrant and dynamic, with polished tannins, a bright spine and a long, elegantly chalky finish. It represents another step up for Berliquet, which will soon benefit from a new winery. Since this property was acquired by Chanel in the autumn of 2017, the positive changes in the expression and intensity of the recent vintages are very impressive, coming from a site with a lot of previously untapped potential. “We are very excited about this terroir here,” Winemaker/Technical Director Nicolas Audebert told me. “When we bought the property, people were thinking we would blend this into Canon. But this was never our point. We are interested in finding how Berliquet can be. The soils are an interesting mix of limestone plateau at the top of the vineyard, clay in the middle and sandy soil toward the bottom. It is roughly a third of each soil type, so, more complex than Canon (their sibling property, situated close by on the Saint-Émilion's famed "limestone plateau"). The limestone brings elegance, tension and freshness. The clay brings more density and weight. Down the hill, where we have the lighter soil with more sands, we get fruit purity. Now, understanding the differences, we can do better here—be more precise. We have the two varieties on all the soil types.” I asked if the vines on the sandy soil struggled this year during the drought. “No!” Audebert said. “Interestingly, on all three soils we have water and freshness. At the bottom is where the excess of water runs down. There are four different ‘sources’ or drainage points on the slope leading into the bottom parts.” Exciting times for Berliquet—bravo to Nicolas Audebert and his team!" - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (4/6/2023), Rating: 94, Drink: 2025-2050

''Another brilliant Saint-Emilion in the vintage, the 2020 Château Berliquet is mostly Merlot yet includes close to a third Cabernet Franc, which no doubt contributes to its elegant, finesse-driven, floral character. It's incredibly pure and classy, with notes of red and blue fruits, sappy spring flowers, graphite, and baking spices all emerging on the nose. These carry to a medium-bodied, ultra-fine, pure, seamless 2020 that offers pleasure today and will offer pleasure in 15+ years as well. This wine is never the biggest or richest in a vintage, but it shines for its purity, balance, and elegance. It's beautifully done.'' Jeb Dunnuck, 2020 Bordeaux from Bottle (3/29/2023) Ratings: 94 Drink: 2023-2038

''Nicolas Auderbert and Thomas Duclos, the pair that did such brilliant job at Château Canon, have turned their sights on Berliquet, owned by Canon since 2017. There are slightly cooler soils here, a touch more clay and it gives a subdued edge with clear quality and bright brambled blackberry, rhubarb, pomegranate, blood organge, turmeric spice. Tight and full of energy. 50% new oak, 40hl/h yield, harvest September 14 to 24. 7.5ha.'' Jane Anson, Best Pomerol 2020 Wines Tasted En Primeur (12/1/2022) Ratings: 93 Drink: 2027-2042