Belgrave lies at Saint-Laurent, just inland from the Saint-Julien boundary, and it is one of those 1855 Fifth Growths whose fortunes fell a long way during the twentieth century. By the late 1970s the property was tired and short of investment; the Dourthe group took it on at the end of the decade and began the slow job of putting it back together. This bottle belongs to the last of the old era.
The 1978 vintage rescued itself. Spring and summer were cold and wet, the crop looked close to lost, and then the weather turned in the middle of August and stayed fine right through a late October harvest. Growers called it the miracle year, and the Médoc in particular made firm, properly classical wines.
An honest, unfashionable claret from a good vintage — and one of the more affordable ways to put 1978 on the table.
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Producer: Château Belgrave
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Vintage: 1978
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Appellation: Haut-Médoc AOC
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Format: 75cl
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Region: Bordeaux, France
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Style: Red
Where it is likely to be now. Forty-eight years on this is a lean, savoury old Médoc from an estate that was underperforming at the time, so treat it as a collectible bottle first and a drink second.
Who it suits. A forty-eighth birthday present for someone born in 1978 who would rather have a real classed growth than a famous label at four times the price.
Condition. No merchant condition grade came with this bottle, so we photograph and check the label, capsule and fill ourselves before the bottle ships.
Provenance. Bought to order from a professional European merchant. We check fill, label and capsule when the bottle reaches us and photograph it before it ships.
Delivered in 7 to 10 working days, tracked. Transit cover can be added at checkout.
Sold as a collectible item, as seen. No guarantee is given on drinkability.
