2016 Château Bélair-Monange

Description

99    James Suckling
“Incredibly perfumed aromas of roses and violets, as well as blue fruit and lavender. Full-bodied and powerful, yet so full of finesse and vibrance. The height of elegance! Such depth of chalk and dark berries. It goes on for minutes. Drink after 2025.” (2/2019)

97+   Lisa Perrotti-Brown for Wine Advocate
“A blend of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2016 Belair Monange comes strutting out of the glass like a total rock star with gregarious red cherries, blackberries and warm plums scents plus hints of lavender, rose hip tea, powdered cinnamon, cigar box and camphor. Medium-bodied, it completely fills the palate with vibrant red and black fruit layers, framed by a firm backbone of grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long and perfumed. Drink 2019-2055” (11/2018)

97    Jane Anson for Decanter
“Edouard Moueix is taking Belair Monange on a ride that we all want to come along with. Made from Cabernet Franc and Merlot on the limestone plateau, this is a gorgeous wine, easily up there with the very best of St-Emilion. The 2016 is buttoned up, with hints of austerity, but it’s hard to miss the most gorgeous limestone vertical lift that it displays. It has incredibly poised blueberry and raspberry fruits, showing integrity and confidence, accompanied by hints of caressing oak and cappuccino creaminess as it opens.” (10/2018)

97    Neal Martin for Vinous
“The 2016 Bélair-Monange is easily the most closed of all of J-P Moueix’s wines when I taste them together. It is stubbornly tight in the glass and then coquettishly unfurls mineral-rich red berry fruit mixed with rose petals; the perfume is captivating. The palate is well balanced, with velvety tannin and perfectly judged acidity, and very, very harmonious. More and more black fruit seems to join the chorus line toward the finish, which fans out gloriously, demonstrating superlative persistence. The best Bélair-Monange to date, and an accomplished, riveting Saint-Émilion. Drink 2025-2055.” (1/2019)

96+   Jeb Dunnuck
“The 2016 Château Belair-Monange (92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc) comes from limestone soils on both the upper plateau and the hillside slope just outside of the village of Saint Emilion. This deep, saturated purple-hued effort offers a more primordial style in its ripe black fruits, toasty oak, espresso bean, and spring flower-scented aromas and flavors. With full-bodied richness, solid acidity, terrific purity, and rock-solid underlying structure, this beautiful Saint Emilion needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will keep for two decades. It opens up nicely with time in the glass, so if you feel like drinking a bottle soon, give it a healthy decant.” (2/2019)

96    Roger Voss for Wine Enthusiast
“After considerable replantation, this 57-acre estate now shows how good it can be. This wine has style as well as concentration and glorious black fruits that are developing into a rich wine. Drink from 2025.” *Cellar Selection* (5/2019)