Chateau Belair-Monange 2021

WEINWISSER: "Gleichauf mit Angélus und Ausone präsentiert sich der Bélair-Monange 2021 nach der Füllung als einer der besten Weine aus Saint-Émilion. Nur Cheval Blanc und Figéac konnten ihn bei der Nachverkostung übertreffen. Sehr viskose, dichte Farbe. Süß und opulent, verströmt der 21er eine grandiose Frische im Geruchsbild, das einer extrem reichhaltigen, monumentalen Merlot-Arena gleicht. Gleichermaßen erzeugt er diese berstende Aromatik im Mund, mit grandioser Tiefenstaffelung und supersaftiger Finesse. Dieser überragende Wein macht so extrem viel Spaß und ist auch so ernsthaft, unglaublich fein und lang, mit grandioser Balance. Endlos aromatisch mit kalkiger Frische und begeisternder Präsenz. Dieser überragende Bélair-Monange wird kaum altern und lange, sehr lange frisch und jugendlich erscheinen. Das Weingut ist architektonisch eine absolute Augenweide."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Lots of lush blue and black fruits followed by violets, fresh mint, roasted almonds and black ink with vanilla beans and mocha. Full-bodied, refreshing acidity with firm and racy tannins. Broad and energetic mid-palate with a succulent and layered finish. Superb concentration with depth and tension. It’s difficult not to drink now but your patience will be rewarded. Try after 2027."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The wine comes from a 64-acre vineyard on the slope leading to the Saint-Emilion plateau. It is dense, its tannins still dominant. The wine's fruit and rich structure are impressive. Drink from 2028."

DECANTER: "A bit quiet aromatically. Bright and shiny straight away, juicy with acidity and minerality to the fore - a real coating of liquorice and flint straight away, fruit feels ripe and perfumed with a lean texture and racy acidity - salty, straight and focused. Tannins are slightly grippy and grainy giving the frame and structure. Needs more time to come together but this feels well worked, with a certain fullness. Salty strawberries, herbal raspberries, wet stone, flint and graphite. You really get the terroir effect here and the final flavour leaves you wanting more. Delicate yet determined. I like it a lot."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 99% Merlot with 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Belair-Monange is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. After a little swirling, evocative scents of violets, star anise, and cloves emerge from the glass, leading to a core of raspberry coulis, black cherry preserves, and juicy plums, plus a touch of fertile loam. The medium-bodied palate is plush and spicy, with delightfully pure red and black berry layers, and a refreshing lift to the finish."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Coming from multiple parcels (26 hectares) and just about all Merlot (there's a tiny 1% splash of Cabernet Franc), the 2021 Château Belair-Monange has quintessential Saint-Emilion limestone-driven minerality as well as a gorgeous perfume of red and black raspberries, leather, graphite, and savory flowers. A downright mineral bomb, this medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, balanced Saint-Emilion has plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 3-5 years, and it's going to drink brilliantly over the following 15-20 years. It's another beautiful, elegant 2021 from the Moueix team."

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Schwarze Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von Edelholz und Nougat, mit feiner Kräuterwürze unterlegt, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, komplex, feine Fruchtsüße, angenehme Mineralik, reife, seidige Tannine, bleibt sehr lange haften, sicheres Reifepotenzial."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Elegant, floral, vibrant , and fresh, the perfume blends sweet red plums cherries, tobacco leaf, spice, mint, cocoa, and a judicious touch of espresso. The medium-bodied palate is about its finesse, over power, finishing with a strong display of minerality that adds to all of the oceanic-influenced bright, fresh, red fruits, with just a touch of spearmint. and chocolate on the backend. The wine blends 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026-2050."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The ethereal 2021 Belair Monange shows its limestone terroir front and center in this cooler vintage, unwinding in the glass with notes of sweet cherries, minty red berries, raw cocoa and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, suave and polished palate that's pure, lively and mineral, concluding with a saline finish."

WINE SPECTATOR: " On the trim side (the hallmark of the vintage), with damson plum and bitter cherry fruit flecked liberally with savory and dried violet hints. Shows refinement, rather than the grainy aspect typical in this vintage, gracefully revealing notes of chalk and potpourri through the finish. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2036. 3,200 cases made, 627 cases imported."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Open and aromatic but with drive and definition on the palate. Fine tannins and freshness, the fruit and structure in balance. Gentle hand in extraction so more on elegance than power."