Dit eerbiedwaardige Château de Bel Air is een Lalande de Pomerol van 15 hectares, rustend op graves en klei en beplant met 73% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc en 8% Cabernet Sauvignon (gemiddelde leeftijd 36 jaar). Met zijn ligging op de hoogte boven het beekje de Barbanne die Lalande de Pomerol scheidt van Pomerol, heeft Bel Air zijn naam niet gestolen. Dit ontging ook de Belgische zakenbankier Michel de Laet Derache en zijn vrouw Christel niet, toen ze het Château in 2011 kochten. Ze vertrouwden het wijnmaken toe aan de bekende François Despagne van Grand Corbin Despagne. Hij maakt er zo’n 6 à 7.000 kistjes. Het resultaat mag er wezen: deze rijkelijk intense en tanninerijke Lalande de Pomerol zal openbloeien over de middellange termijn en alle genieters verblijden.
Ook Château de Bel Air is één van de allerbeste verhoudingen prijs-kwaliteit-plezier van 2015 volgens zowel Jancis Robinson als Jeannie Cho Lee.
IN DE PERS
87 Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate - robertparker.com (Maart 2018)
The 2015 de Bel-Air has a crisp nose, a mixture of red and black fruit, undergrowth and truffle scents, not the most vigorous but well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, quite edgy in style, maybe just a touch of greenness toward the mocha-infused finish but that counters the surprising richness. Fine. Anticipated maturity: 2020 - 2030.
88-90 Neal Martin – The Wine Advocate Issue #224 - Robertparker.com (April 2016)
The 2015 Château de Bel-Air, a Lalande-de-Pomerol, is a blend of 75% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. It has a more tertiary-driven bouquet with undergrowth scents peeking through the carapace of black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with thickset tannin, nicely judged acidity, smooth in texture with a harmonious, slightly saline finish. It feels a little curmudgeonly at the moment, but I suspect it will brighten up by the time of bottling. Drink 2019-2030.
88 Antonio Galloni - vinous.com (Februari 2018)
The 2015 Bel-Air is a very pretty, gracious wine. Bright red stone fruit, tobacco and floral notes give it aromatic lift and plenty of sensuality to match its midweight personality. All the elements are very nicely balanced throughout. Drink 2018-2023.
87-89 Antonio Galloni – Vinous - vinous.com (April 2016)
The 2015 Bel-Air is an attractive Lalande de Pomerol. Forward, fruit-driven and nicely supple, the Bel-Air offers plenty of vintage 2015 radiance. There is more than enough depth and structure to allow the 2015 to develop nicely for at least a handful of years. The blend is 73% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon.
88 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate - robertparker.com (Februari 2018)
Blended of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc, the medium garnet-purple colored 2015 de Bel-Air has something of a dark-fruited, animal, broody nose, showing notes of stewed plums, baked blackberries and beef drippings with a waft of bay leaves. Medium to full-bodied, it has a very refreshing palate with a light grip of tannins and a lively herbal lift to the finish. Drink 2019-2030.
16/20 Jancis Robinson – jancisrobinson.com (April 2016)
73% Merlot, 19% Cabernet Franc, 8% Cabernet Sauvignon. 15 ha (37 acres) of gravel and clay. Bright transparent crimson. Heady and opulent on the nose. Very pleasing if pretty evolved with some floral notes. Drink: 2020-2030.
92 Jeannie Cho Lee – Forbes Magazine (19 april 2016)
A seductive floral nose with violets and jasmine; the palate is equally suave and enticing with red fruits and sweet spices. Tannins are well handled with supple texture and a fairly long finish.
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