Chateau Belair-Monange 2020

Interesting aromatic potential with notes of berries and spices; an elegant opening, a dense, even mineral-driven mid-palate, with tannins that bring polish and substance; great length; a wine with real class.

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, 600 cases imported.

95–97. 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.

Striking yet elegant, this holds its own being tasted after the more plush and ripe Trotanoy while this is more focussed and streamlined. Just as confident, concentrated and intense but in a different way completely. This is more reserved, refined and less overt, with an incredible purity and precision to the layers of red berry fruit and salinity from the limestone. Such nuance and detail, this is seductive with a powdery texture to the tannins. Really very well worked. Hard to pick a favourite as the length and overall sculpting here are exceptional. A gorgeous wine with star power that really leaves a lingering impression.

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.

Tasted blind. Very deep crimson. Fresh fruit on the nose and quite mild on the palate with moderate tannins. A little austere on the end. (JR)

The 2020 Bélair-Monange is tremendous. What a wine. It is easily the best effort since the Mouiex family bought the property. Rich, ample and dramatic, Bélair-Monange 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, Bélair-Monange is a real stunner in 2020.

Spell-binding in every sense of the word, you can sense this is special from the initial sniff with its showy bouquet of white and purple flowers, black, red, and blue fruits, crushed rocks, espresso, and licorice. On the palate, the wine is concentrated and intense, finishing with a majestic combination of black plums, black cherries, chocolate, sea salt, and velvet-laced tannins. The final end note appears close to the 60-second mark. This will age and effortlessly evolve for the next 3 decades with ease. Drink from 2027-2060.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, faint brightening on rim. Inviting nuances of black cherry, ripe plum, sweet tobacco leaves, some vanilla, pleasant noble wood touch, candied orange zest, chocolaty nuances. Juicy, very elegant, fine cherry fruit, silky tannins, good freshness, light nougat on the finish, already accessible and harmonious, shows great length, certain ageing potential.

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.

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.

A very complex bouquet: ripe sour cherry, a delicate hint of lilac and light graphite, followed by licorice and Burley tobacco. The palate is elegant, with a silky-smooth texture, impressive extract richness, dancing vibrancy and a finely honed body. The focused, finely aromatic finish suggests a basket of sour cherries, tarragon and a noble bitter note. One of the top stars of the appellation!

Kunz Fassprobe 2021: (98% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc) A velvety, dense, complex and deep bouquet, with wild strawberries, pralines, mint and nougat. The palate is dense and elegant, with a finely creamy texture, intense, sweet and precise fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a tightly knit, delicately muscular structure, and a powerful, multifaceted, sweet aromatic profile. Very long finish, full-bodied, fine and fresh, with many lingering notes.

(98% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc) A velvety, dense, complex, deep bouquet: wild strawberries, chocolates, mint, nougat. Dense, elegant palate with a finely creamy texture, underpinned by intense, sweet, precise fruit, lots of very fine tannins, a tightly knit, delicately muscular structure. Powerful, complex, sweet aromatics. Very long, intense, fine, fresh finish with plenty of lingering flavors. 19/20 2028 - 2048

A blend of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Belair-Monange has a deep garnet-purple color. It begins on a single note of bright, juicy red berries and roses, before expanding out to a whole array of suggestions of black plums, raspberry preserves, and mince pie, plus wafts of lilacs, loam, and cinnamon toast. The palate is full-on, full-bodied, jam-packed with muscular black and red berry layers and so many floral and savory accents, supported by velvety tannins, finishing with epic length and so much energy that it shimmers.

97-98

Right away, a limestone expression bursts from the nose of this 2020, rich with sun-drenched concentration. Beautifully textured, it unfolds a powdery, fine-grained palate. The power, driven by Merlot, is brilliantly controlled, showcasing a graceful, chalky length. It seems ready for serene cellaring.

A delicate nose, with enticing sappy and floral notes rising above the dense, musky, earthy aromas of the forest floor, and a core of perfectly ripe dark fruit that remains understated. A taffeta-like texture on the palate, as light as the ruffles on a dancer’s tutu. A very refined wine, perfectly mature, fresh and precise. A lovely spicy richness is building on the finish.

The nose is elegant and aromatic (a lovely aromatic range), offering fine definition, precision, depth, complexity and a beautifully refined, distinguished texture. It reveals notes of fleshy blackberry and vibrant blackcurrant, with lighter touches of bright small berries, alongside hints of lilac and violet, touches of camphor, nutmeg and pepper, discreet hints of vanilla, and a subtle touch of saffron and spice. The palate is fruity and well-balanced, with fine definition, lovely freshness, elegance and indulgence, controlled depth, suavity, very fine-grained tannins (refined / chalky), delicacy, lovely harmony, a certain aromatic purity, good clarity, controlled richness (with freshness), as well as power that remains measured and finely wrought. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of bright, juicy raspberry and fleshy redcurrant, with lighter touches of vibrant blackcurrant, joined by hints of fresh, tangy blueberry, violet and lilac, as well as delicate varietal nuances, mocha, toasty notes and a subtle touch of hazelnut. Good length. Beautiful, long persistence. A fine handling of bitters. A pleasant grain on the finish that heightens the sense of indulgence. A lovely cocoa bitterness at the end / on the back of the palate, with delicate toasty touches. A slight chewiness on the finish/persistence. A very fine wine with great ageing potential. Congratulations!