2018 Bellefont Belcier
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Tasting Notes
Intense aromas and flavors of blue fruit and violets. Hints of green tea and black olives. Changes all the time. Medium-to full-bodied with polished and very silky tannins. Love the center palate. The finish lasts for minutes. This year, about one-third cabernet franc gives an edge to the merlot and the touch of cabernet sauvignon.
Critic Scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Bellefont Belcier delivers profound notions of warm plums, baked cherries and mulberries with hints of spice cake and underbrush. Full-bodied, rich and decadent, it has a rock-solid backbone of rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. Aging is in progress for an anticipated 20 months in 40% new, 40% one year-old and 20% two year-old barrels. The blend is 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Tasted on multiple occasions, the 2018 Château Bellefont-Belcier always showed brilliantly, with a full-bodied, sexy style that’s very much in the vintage. Coming from a 12.5-hectare vineyard just beside Larcis Ducasse (this is an incredible terroir) and a blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, aging in 40% new French oak, its deep purple color is followed by a classic bouquet of ripe black fruits, tobacco leaf, earth, and spice box. Deep, rich, and textured, with sweet tannins, it’s another rock star effort this vintage that’s going to benefit from just short-term cellaring and keep for two decades or more.
About the producer
The history of the estate dates back to the 17th century, but the estate acquired its current name from Count Louis-Francois de Belcier who took ownership of the property at the end of the 18th century.