2020 Bellefont Belcier
Buying options
Tasting notes
There’s fantastic clarity to this wine’s complex nose, bristling with lifted floral, lavender and violet aromas, with darker, deeper, dry toasted spice, tobacco, black pepper and liquorice notes. This is a great example of the abundant florality to the Right Bank in 2020. The wine has lovely detail to the seamless tannins, allied with baked blueberry and fresh black plum fruit. There is a lovely balance between the ripe, silky fruit, savoury and sweet spice, while retaining a firm, mineral limestone underpinning. This is more restrained than their ‘19 and all the better for it. Excellent. The blend is 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
James Lawther MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Deep crimson. Lifted dark-red and black fruits. A touch leafy but fresh, the tannins firm, polished. Well built for the long term. (JH)
The 2020 Bellefont Belcier has a fine bouquet that's quite backward at first, later unfurling with blackberry, espresso and light leather scents. There's some attractive Cabernet Franc here. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit interwoven with sage and black pepper. There's good vigor on the finish and impressive length. This is a 2020 Right Bank for long-term cellaring, and it represents one of the estate's best wines in recent years. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
The 2020 Bellefont Belcier is a terrific follow up to the excellent 2019. Wafting from the glass with aromas of dark berries, licorice, bay leaf and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and refined, with lovely depth at the core, vibrant acids and a long, chalky finish. It's great to see one of Saint-Émilion's sleeping giants awakening.
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.