2012 Berliquet

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.

An intriguing blend of 65% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, coming from the limestone plateau of St.-Emilion, a chalky minerality interwoven with blackcurrants, plum and spice are present in this slightly austere, but well-endowed, medium-bodied St.-Emilion. It will benefit from 2-4 years of bottle age. This is a solidly made, masculine style of St.-Emilion that should drink nicely for 12-15 years. Berliquet’s yields were a modest 30 hectoliters per hectare, and the wine achieved 14.2% alcohol.