{"product_id":"chateau-belgrave-haut-medoc-750ml","title":"Chateau Belgrave 2017 Haut-Médoc 750ml","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eChâteau Belgrave carries genuinely unusual history for a Bordeaux classified growth — the estate began life not as a vineyard at all, but as a royal hunting lodge under King Louis XIV, originally known as Château Coutenceau, before an English owner living in Belgravia, London, renamed it in the early 20th century. The property's own label artwork is a deliberate nod to that past, and — tongue firmly in cheek — if there's a small, proud dog embossed in gold on your bottle, it's a genuinely fitting touch for an estate whose entire origin story is a hunting ground rather than a wine estate. Belgrave was officially classified as a Fifth Growth in the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification, and the property is now owned by Dourthe, part of a broader portfolio that includes several other notable Bordeaux châteaux.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe 2017 vintage is a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend — 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot — genuinely \"very Saint-Julien in style,\" per Dourthe's own copy, despite sitting within the Haut-Médoc appellation rather than that more famous neighboring commune. Château Belgrave typically benefits from real patience: the estate's own guidance suggests decanting young vintages for one to two hours, with the wine generally reaching peak drinking between six and fifteen years after the vintage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe critical reception has been genuinely strong across three major publications. Wine Enthusiast awarded 93 Points. Decanter and James Suckling each scored the wine 91 Points, with Decanter noting \"a fairly high level of oak toasting, but grilled cedar rather than vanilla in character, making it more classically\" styled. Sauer Grapes' own tasting found the wine \"very deep and concentrated in appearance,\" the \"intense bouquet\" punching \"ripe, fresh, black fruit aromas, with cassis taking center stage,\" the palate \"initially smooth\" before exploding \"to reveal full-bodied\" structure. A separate tasting describes \"dark currant, black cherry, creamy, and refined\" character, \"well-formed\" with \"tannins and black-currant fruits in balance.\" This is genuinely serious, age-worthy Bordeaux — real classified-growth pedigree from an estate with one of the more unusual origin stories in the entire Médoc.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigins \u0026amp; Craftsmanship\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eChateau Belgrave 2017 Haut-Médoc is a Fifth Growth (5ème Cru Classé) estate under the historic 1855 Bordeaux Classification, owned by Dourthe. The property originated as a royal hunting lodge under King Louis XIV, known then as Château Coutenceau, before being renamed Château Belgrave by an English owner in the early 20th century — the estate's label artwork continues to reference that hunting-lodge history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe 2017 vintage is a blend of 88% Cabernet Sauvignon and 12% Merlot, grown on soils of clay, sand, and gravel. Following harvest and sorting, the wine ferments in stainless steel tanks at controlled temperature, then ages on the fine lees in oak barrels for roughly 14 months.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Enthusiast — 93 Points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter — 91 Points:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"This displays a fairly high level of oak toasting, but grilled cedar rather than vanilla in character, making it more classically styled.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling — 91 Points\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSauer Grapes (extended tasting note):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Very deep and concentrated in appearance. The intense bouquet punches ripe, fresh, black fruit aromas, with cassis taking center stage. Initially smooth on the palate, the wine explodes to reveal full-bodied structure.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDourthe (official house-style note):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Declared Grand Cru Classé in 1855, Château Belgrave is the estate's fine wine. A majority blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, it reveals all the finesse and character of this great terroir. Dense and deep, it is an age-worthy wine with fresh, complex flavours, and very 'Saint-Julien' in style.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Profile\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDeep and concentrated, with ripe black fruit and cassis leading, joined by black cherry and dark currant, alongside grilled cedar and toasted oak.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eInitially smooth, opening into full-bodied structure, with dark currant and black cherry carrying real concentration, framed by refined, well-integrated tannin.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eLong and age-worthy, closing with genuine classical Bordeaux structure — real potential for further cellaring.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eCategory\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAppellation\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eHaut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eClassification\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e5ème Cru Classé, 1855\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVariety\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e88% Cabernet Sauvignon · 12% Merlot\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVintage\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2017\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eChateau Belgrave (Dourthe)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEstate History\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eOriginally a royal hunting lodge under Louis XIV\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAging\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e~14 months, oak barrels, on fine lees\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWine Enthusiast 93 · Decanter 91 · James Suckling 91\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle \/ Identity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eA classically styled, age-worthy classified growth — genuinely \"Saint-Julien\" in character\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAromas \u0026amp; Flavors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCassis, black cherry, grilled cedar, dark fruit\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDrinking Window\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e6-15 years post-vintage\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottle Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e750ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRoasted quail or duckling casserole\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRack of lamb\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBeef medallion with carrots and onions\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMature cheeses (Cantal, Gouda, Saint-Nectaire)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Breakthru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45258639802434,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0363\/8621\/files\/Chateau_Belgrave_2017_Haut-M_doc_750ml.jpg?v=1790191137","url":"https:\/\/www.blackwellswines.com\/products\/chateau-belgrave-haut-medoc-750ml","provider":"Blackwell's Wines \u0026 Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}