Maison Belliard, Heritage de Belliard, Margaux, 2016

A softly powerful nose, full of brooding red cherry, damson and plum flavours with touches of vanilla wood spice and roasted coffee beans. On the palate the texture is smooth with a rich and ripe core, generous but soft tannins, and long finish. This is approachable now but also has great ageing potential. 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot complete the blend. Grapes are hand-harvested from clay-gravel soils without the use of pesticides and vinified with a long fermentation of around six weeks in stainless steel, aged 18 months in French barrels, 30% new. Around 3,000 bottles per hectare are produced.