FranceBordeauxChâteau Bélair-MonangeBelair-Monange
Fine, lean and finely-boned. Great balance and tone to the blue and black fruit. Lovely.FINE+RARE Score: 17/20
The 2011 Belair-Monange is a little more thrust on the nose compared to the more feminine Magdelaine. It offers a red fruit profile with floral aromas, the creamy oak a little more pronounced but not obfuscating the sense of terroir emanating from the glass. Over five minutes it attains wonderful cohesion and purity. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins on the entry. It has a lovely balance with tensile tannins. poised and refined with a lovely build towards the finish that has good weight and sinew. All focus and finesse. Tasted April 2012. Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com
It is amazing how things have turned around for this tiny jewel of a property adjacent to Chateau Ausone. Production has been cut back and the selection process has become deeply serious as just over 1,500 cases were produced in this vintage. The dense ruby/purple-colored 2011 offers gorgeous aromas of kirsch, crushed rock, raspberries and subtle oak are followed by a medium-bodied, concentrated mouthfeel that suggests low yields and impeccable winemaking. A star of the vintage, it should be forgotten for 4-5 years and drunk over the following two decades. Apr 2014, www.robertparker.com
Fine, lean and finely-boned. Great balance and tone to the blue and black fruit. Lovely.
Very intense aromas of flowers and blueberries follow through to a full and dense palate yet compacted with a long pretty finish. Chocolate undertones as well. jamessuckling.com
Château Bélair-Monange sits at the highest point of Saint-Émilion neighbouring Château Ausone. The steep slope vineyards offers some of the most beautiful vistas overlooking the historic town of Saint-Émilion. Prior to 2008, the estate was known as Château Belair and has been recognised as one of the most well positioned sites in Saint-Émilion with vineyards dating back to 1730.