In Bond Fine Wine. 2015 Château Belair Monange, Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, France. Premier Grand Cru Classé B • Red Bordeaux in 6x75cl. Top critic score: 17–18/20 (JR). Drinking window: 2024–2044. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Perched high on the famed limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, neighbouring the legendary Ausone, Chateau Belair Monange has long been regarded as one of the appellation’s great terroirs. Since its acquisition by Ets Jean-Pierre Moueix in 2008, the estate has undergone a remarkable transformation, with meticulous attention in both vineyard and cellar allowing this exceptional site to fully realise its immense potential. Today, Château Bélair-Monange stands among the leading lights of Saint-Émilion, with recent vintages rated highly by leading critics. The vineyard’s extraordinary terroir - asteriated limestone plateau, blue clay slopes and sun-drenched south-facing terraces overlooking the Dordogne valley - give Bélair-Monange its unmistakable character: wines of striking minerality, finesse and depth, combining richness and power with seamless tannins and remarkable freshness.
Albany Vintners (AV) — 93–96/100 · -, 27/04/2016
A neighbour of Chateau Ausone, the Moueix family took over the Belair estate in 2008 and renamed it Belair-Monange, in memory of Christian Moueix's grandmother, incorporating into it also the vineyards of Chateau Magdelaine. Opulent with plush ripe red summer fruits and richness. This is quite gorgeous already but with good grip and tension underpinning the fruit. Measured and precise with a long…
Jane Anson (JA) — 96/100 · Inside Bordeaux, 23/06/2022 · Drink 2024-2044
Where Pomerol can be love at first sight, St Emilion is little more intellectual, and you can see that here, with the extreme salinity of limestone on display, bright fruit, raspberry and loganberry fruits, beautiful slate-scraping tannins and a kick of mouthwatering acidity on the finish. This was the point at which the newly-formed (three years previously) Belair-Monange began to really take sh…
James Molesworth (JMol) — 95–98/100 · Wine Spectator, 01/04/2016
Features some seriously racy raspberry and plum coulis flavors, glistening with bitter orange and rooibos tea accents before picking up a long chalky spine on the finish. Tightly focused, revealing impressive perfume that should unfurl slowly.