2016 Château Bellefont-Belcier

Description

93+   Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
“The 2016 Bellefont Belcier is blended of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged for 20 months in 80% new and 20% one-year-old barrels. Michel Rolland consults for this wine. Deep garnet-purple in color, it gives delicate dried flowers, garrigue, dusty soil and smoked meats over warm black plums and blackberry preserves with hints of menthol. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated and muscular with a rock-solid structure and loads of layered black fruit in the mid-palate, with a lingering earthiness to the finish. 5,000 cases produced.” (11/2018) Lisa Perrotti-Brown

92    Antonio Galloni for Vinous
“The 2016 Bellefont-Belcier is a powerful, muscular Saint-Émilion with huge tannins that wrap around a core of dark fruit. Graphite, melted road tar, dark cherry, smoke and leather add to an impression of pure virile power. It will be interesting to see if the 2016 softens with time in bottle. Today, it is very much a bruiser. Tasted three times.” (1/2019)

92    James Molesworth for Wine Spectator
“Warm and lush in feel, delivering soft-edged fig, boysenberry and blackberry compote flavors infused liberally with ganache and black licorice accents. Ample toast hints drape over the finish, and this is definitely accessible, but a good buried graphite note should also help it develop with a bit of cellaring. Drink now through 2032.” (3/2019)