2017 Bellevue Mondotte
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The 2017 Bellevue Mondotte is just as impressive from bottle as it was en primeur. Powerful and structured, with tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions, the 2017 is all class. Inky dark fruit, graphite, menthol and licorice all come together with time in the glass. This tiny vineyard on very poor limestone subsoil gives wines of real power and structure. The 2017 is a gorgeous Saint-Émilion endowed with tons of energy and tension.
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James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
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There was no frost in the vineyard in 2017, due to its elevation. Deep garnet purple in color, the 2017 Bellevue Mondotte is composed of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal vibrant notes of crushed blackberries, warm plums, black raspberries and wild blueberries plus wafts of star anise, garrigue and lavender. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tension and intense blue and black fruit layers, framed by super firm, super ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing very long and earthy.
The 2017 Bellevue Mondotte was bottled in July 2019. The 2017 is endowed with an opulent bouquet that is atypical of the vintage. Much more blue fruit and cassis here compared directly with the Pavie-Decesse. The new oak is more prominent (100%), with a lavish, velvety smooth finish that fans out with blueberry, fig, blackcurrant and a sprinkling of white pepper. I feel that this has improved since its showing in barrel by losing some of its density and firmness. Tt could well evolve into a very fine Saint-Émilion.
Based on 60% Merlot and 15% each of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in new barrels, the 2017 Bellevue Mondotte sports a deep, inky color as well as a seamless, seductive, opulent style that's rarely found in the vintage. Creme de cassis, cold iron, macerated cherries, and toasted spice as well as touch of chocolate give way to a massive, full-bodied, rounded 2017 that already offers tons of pleasure.