CHÂTEAU BERLIQUET
2021 Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion
61 Merlot, 39 Cabernet Franc | 44% new oak and 4 amphoras | 13.5% alc | 30 hl/ha | 3.41 pH There is more volume of fruit here than expected, but it is rather crunched and ruffled, and the tannins fall onto the palate in a heap. The fruit flavours are certainly enticing, and the oak is not over the top, but the palate is my leading cause of concern, and it needs to iron out and gather some silkiness soon. The limestone element is currently sticking out, and while it will need to hang onto this part because it is the energy pack, it needs to give the fruit from the plateau section a chance to mellow and evolve. Until all three sections, limestone, sand, and plateau, are all in harmony, you should not open a bottle. Time will tell, and I am an optimist, so I will back this wine with a decent score and a pair of crossed fingers. Rating: 17.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Jun 2022)
* This is a pre-shipment/primeur offer. All orders are accepted under the TERMS of this offer which differ from the terms of the rest of the site.
An attractive bright purple colour with violet rim, and warming fruit aromatics, touches of cloves. This is impressive, with a lovely sense of lift and freshness, and beautifully placed raspberry, blackberry and redcurrant fruits. A little bulkier than its sibling estate Canon, slightly more angular tannins in this vintage, but still with the juicy fingerprint of limestone. First year of organic conversion, with certification expected 2024. 44% new oak, plus four amphora. 30hl/h yield, 3.41ph. Clay-limestone plateau, next to Canon but with slightly cooler, more powerful soils. Tasted twice. Drinking range: 2026 - 2040 Rating: 93 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2022)
Rather firm and muscular tannins frame the wine. Medium-to full-bodied with a column of fruit and density. Shows potential. Earth and spice at the end. Rating: 93-94 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2022)
The 2021 Berliquet was picked September 23 to October 5 at 30hL/ha, and matured in 44% new oak for a planned 16 months. Limpid purple in color. The nose is surprisingly concentrated given the growing season, offering crème de cassis and violet petal aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with quite firm tannins that frame the black cherry and boysenberry fruit. Not a complex Berliquet, yet it possesses admirable substance and ripeness on the finish. One to watch. Drinking range: 2029 - 2050 Rating: 91-93 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2022)
The 2021 Berliquet is the best wine the new team led by Technical Director Nicolas Audebert has made since taking over the property a few years ago. The purity of the fruit is striking. Red cherry, plum, lavender, rose petal and spice lend nuance throughout. Despite the obviously challenging growing season, the Berliquet team turned out a very pretty wine. Impressive. Tasted three times. Drinking range: 2029 - 2036 Rating: 91-93 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2022)
A notable success in this vintage, the 2021 La Gaffelière offers up aromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with notions of licorice, loamy soil and spices. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and enveloping, it's supple and charming, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, concluding with impressive persistence. Tasted four times, twice at the château. Rating: 92-93 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (May 2022)
Please make sure that you have read the terms of this offer which are different from those on the main website. If you are unclear as to what is involved in primeur purchases please do contact our private client team via email or on 020 7018 0187.
Ordering
Prices are all in bond by the case size stated.
Pre-Orders are a firm commitment to buy wines on release, as long as the release price is within the upper and lower price bands set by you on the pre-order form. Pre-orders will be fulfilled subject to availability but providing this firm commitment to buy effectively gives you priority and is a good idea for the most desirable wines.
Wines listed on the website can be ordered in the usual way via the website wishlist order form. You can also send orders directly to our private client team via email. Please note that, for the most sought-after wines, priority will be given to those who ordered the same wines last year and to those that have pre-ordered.
Confirmation
All orders will be confirmed by email and are binding unless written cancellation is received within seven days of email confirmation. Pre-orders are not binding if the release price is above your upper price band.
Invoices are all raised at the in bond price (excluding any duty and VAT) which will become payable at the prevailing rates when the wines arrive in the UK, should you wish to take duty paid delivery.
Payment is required on sight of invoice, by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We regret we cannot accept credit cards for en primeur orders. We reserve the right to apply a dunning charge of 2% per month on invoices unpaid after 30 days.
Delivery
- Shipment to our bond (at LCB Creek Road) and insurance are included in the in bond price.
- Delivery is free to Lea and Sandeman / Elephant storage accounts, both duty paid and in bond.
- Other deliveries (In Bond and Duty Paid) are also free subject to a minimum order from the offer of £500. Orders below this total will be charged an administration and handling fee of £16.50+ VAT when invoices are issued. We will group deliveries and this is a charge for your entire purchases, not a per-case charge.
- Delivery of 2023 Bordeaux bought en primeur is expected during 2026. Delivery dates may vary as wines are shipped from Bordeaux at different times.
Practical notes - how it works
We start a sale in each customer's name and add all their primeur orders to one sale which is invoiced at the end of the campaign (or when the customer wishes). Immediate payment of invoices is then required by cash, cheque, debit card or bank transfer. We and our customers find that having a single invoice for the vintage is the simpler option but please note that confirmed orders are still binding even if the final invoice has not yet been issued.
Please specify on your wishlist order form where you would like the wines shipped on arrival in the UK. If this is to a third-party bonded warehouse, please specify the relevant account details. If the wines are required duty-paid we will issue a second invoice for duty and VAT at the prevailing rate when the wines are available for delivery.
Half-bottles, Magnums and larger bottles.
One of the additional advantages of buying en primeur is being able to order the wine in the format you want. While most of our listings are for 75cl bottles, we can source wines in any format that is offered by the Château. Please note that format requests cannot be changed once wines have been invoiced. Additional charges for special formats do apply and are as follows:-
- +£18.00 per case of 12 half-bottles
- +£30.00 per case of 24 half-bottles
- +£7.50 per case of 3 Magnums (2 bottles equivalent, 1.5 litres each)
- +£11.00 per case of 6 Magnums
- +£45.00 per individually boxed Double Magnum (4 bottles equivalent, 3 litres)
- +£60.00 per individually boxed Imperial (8 bottles equivalent, 6 litres) for Salmanazars, Balthazars, Nebuchadnezzars and Melchiors please enquire for availability and price.
Storage Options:
Wines bought en primeur won't arrive in the UK until 2026. If you do not wish to take home delivery at that point, you may wish to consider where you would like the wines shipped. Lea & Sandeman offers duty paid and in bond storage through a dedicated storage company called Elephant Storage. For more details on the terms and fees associated with storage please go to our Storage Homepage or contact our private client team for more information.