Chateau Belair Monange 2020

- 99 Punkte JAMES SUCKLING: „Intense aromas of wet earth, limestone cellars and dark fruits such as currants and blackberries. Then turns to flowers. Black truffles, too. Licorice. Gravel. Full-bodied with a solid palate of tannins that melt into the wine. It’s sleek and muscular with fantastic length and presence. Reminds me of great old Belairs from the 1950s. Cool wine. 98% merlot and 2% cabernet franc. Give it six to eight years of time. Best after 2028.“

- 98 Punkte JEB DUNNUCK: „The Grand Vin 2020 Château Belair-Monange is also 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc that's a blend of the upper limestone plateau and the more clay heavy soils on the hillside. Very much in the tight, structured style of the vintage, its dense purple hue is followed by a great nose of ripe black cherries, black raspberries, dried flowers, loamy earth, and camphor, with a beautiful sense of minerality. Opening up with time in the glass, it's full-bodied, has a deep, layered mouthfeel, gorgeous overall balance, and a great finish. It offers pleasure today but will benefit from 7-8 years of bottle age and will be a 30+ year wine.“

- 19 Punkte WEINWISSER: "Dicht verwobenes Bouquet mit roter Kirsche, edle Fliedernote und Lakritze. Im zweiten Ansatz geröstete Himbeerkerne, dunkles Graphit und Holundergelee. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, betörender Extraktfülle, engmaschigem Tanningerüst und perfekt balancierter Rasse. Im katapultartigen Finale zeigt dieses Juwel seine Klasse und endet mit Schattenmorellen, Wacholder und zarter Adstringenz. Alles am richtigen Platz!"

- 98 Punkte VINOUS, Antonio Galloni: „The 2020 Belair-Moange is tremendous. What a wine. It is easily the best effort since the Moueix family bought the property. Rich, ample and dramatic, Belair-Nomange saturates the palate with waves of inky dark red fruit. Sweet floral, espresso and spice notes appear later, adding shades of nuance. Clean mineral notes extend the finish effortlessly. A wine of exotic beauty and allure, Belair-monange is a real stunner in 2020.“

- 97 Punkte WINE ENTHUSIAST, Roger Voss: „Barrel Sample. This large Saint-Emilion estate is now on top form. Richly structured and with fine dark fruits, it is full of aromatic Cabernet Franc berry flavors along with some powerful tannins. Expect this wine to go far.“

- 97 Punkte FALSTAFF, Peter Moser: „Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Einladende Nuancen von schwarzen Kirschen, reife Pflaumen, süße Tabakblätter, etwas Vanille, angenehmer Edelholztouch, kandierte Orangenzesten, schokoladige Nuancen. Saftig, sehr elegant, feine Kirschfrucht, seidige Tannine, gute Frische, heller Nougat im Abgang, bereits sehr gut entwickelt und harmonisch, zeigt große Länge, sicheres Reifepotenzial.“

- 96 Punkte ANDREAS LARSSON: „The nose combines chalky and mineral notes with very ripe dark cherry and blackberry with fine oak derived notes underneath – butterscotch, mild vanilla and clove, yet the lush fruit is dominating on the palate which is super refined and dense with a very rich backbone of ripe, yet youthful and present tannin. Excellent grip with pure dark flavours, very refreshing thanks to a great combo of acidity and tannin adding plenty of lift and grip followed by a very long and lush finish. Really nicely done yet plenty of tannic power needing time to come around.“

- 95 Punkte Robert Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, William Kelley: „The 2020 Belair Monange has also turned out nicely in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of rich cherries, plums, sweet spices, rose petals and creamy new oak. Full-bodied, rich and layered, it remains fresh despite its ripe, sun-kissed profile, and its generous payload of tannin helps to integrate its rather lofty level of alcohol. This is a success in its demonstrative, modern style.“

- 94 Punkte WINESPECTATOR, James Molesworth: „A classically styled, slightly austere Bordeaux, with a chalky spine that helps drive red and black currant and plum puree notes along, all while light alder, dried rose petal and light tobacco notes fill in the background. Refined and focused through the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2030 through 2040. 5,250 cases made.“

- 94 Punkte DECANTER, Georgina Hindle: „Supple and generous, dark and brooding with perfume and charm. The flavours go vertically, giving depth on the mid-palate, but remaining defined and detailed. I love the very subtle sweetness, a sweet strawberry jam element to the mid-palate that gives joy and life, while quite serious savoury elements expand around the mouth - clove, cinnamon, aniseed, baking spices, cedar and dark chocolate. A serious wine, certainly with ageing potential. Well worked, long and ripe with lovely mineral touches. Needs some more time to come around but this is a brilliant second wine - one to get hold of!“

- 18 Punkte VINUM: „Noten von Beeren und Gewürzen; seidiger, besonders dichter, mineralischer Bau, Tannin von exzellentem Schliff; hat Klasse. Trinkfenster 2030-2040“