Belair Monange 2014

The 2014 Belair-Monange was a slightly perplexing wine when I tasted it from barrel, so I was intrigued to discover how it would perform now in bottle. It has what you might describe as a "straight-laced" bouquet: very direct and nicely delineated, albeit without the frills and nuances of some of the best Saint Emilion wines this vintage. There is an attractive wilted rose petal aroma that emerges with aeration, but I was seeking more intensity. The palate is better than the aromatics: silky smooth in texture, well-judged acidity, genuine depth and gentle grip in the mouth. There is tangible mineralité here, great focus with a sense of tension and "bite" towards the finish. I was probably being parsimonious with my score in barrel, although that is partly vindicated by the nose that needs to get its act together and match the potential of the palate. Let's see how this develops over the next few years.

Score: 92 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2038 Date: 31 March 2017

Vibrant aromas of blackberries, currants and flowers follow through to a medium to full body, ultra-fine tannins and a savory aftertaste. A lovely softness and refinement to this young 2014. Gentle. New second wine of Bélair-Monage. Drink in 2020.

Score: 93 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 13 February 2017

There’s gorgeous purity here, with cassis, loganberry and raspberry fruit carried by a lightly brambly feel, giving this more weight and grip than previous vintages. The chalky thread is there and really extends through the finish but is easily absorbed overall. Ends with lovely bergamot and rooibos tea notes. Best from 2022 through 2035.

Score: 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2022-2035 Date: 11 January 2017

One of the highlights of the vintage, the 2014 Bélair-Monange hits the palate with serious depth, palpable energy and huge, imposing tannins. All the elements come together in a dark, sumptuous wine that brings together deep layers of fruit along with beams of precise, salivating minerality. Sweet floral and spice notes add lift on the close, but above all else the 2014 is a wine of power. The fresh, invigorating finish encapsulates the essence of the vintage. Since 2012, Bélair-Monange has been made from three parcels on gravel, clay and limestone. It is that very intersection that yields one of the most distinctive wines in St.-Emilion. Two thousand fourteen is also the first vintage that includes fruit from the replanting done on the plateau. I tasted the Bélair-Monange last in my survey of the Moueix family's 2014s, after Trotanoy and La Fléur-Petrus, and it more than held its own.

Score: 93 - 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 05 May 2015