2018 · Château Belgrave

Château Belgrave is a classified Médoc estate in Saint-Laurent-Médoc, on the border with Saint-Julien, with a single contiguous vineyard whose outline has remained unchanged since 1855. Its deep, well-drained gravel soils over limestone-clay subsoil are particularly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside Merlot, Petit Verdot and small amounts of Cabernet Franc. Owned and managed by Vignobles Dourthe since 1979, the estate has, since 1990, eliminated chemical fertilizers, limited pesticide use, reduced yields and worked parcel by parcel in the cellar. Farming is not presented here as organic or biodynamic, but includes careful canopy management, selective hand harvesting and broader biodiversity initiatives. Winemaking is led by Frédéric Bonnaffous, with a style rooted in terroir expression and rigorous vineyard work.