Gedreven en haastig om zijn historische ranking aan de top van het firmament van Saint Emilion te heroveren zet Bélair Monange een indrukwekkende reeks wijnen op het voorplan. Het zijn zonder moeite de mooiste Bélairs ooit. Hopelijk blijft dit Château zo lang mogelijk de hoogst scorende wijn tegen de meest betaalbare prijs! Een crescendo opbouw van de proefervaring is typisch voor een ware Grand Vin en Bélair Monange tikt met brio het vakje. Onweerstaanbaar heerlijk, super verfijnd en een waar plezier om te proeven. Deze hyper intense Premier Grand Cru Classé is “big by every measure” maar slaagt erin onze nieuwsgierigheid te begeesteren zonder ook maar een duimbreed aan charme in te boeten. Dit is natuurlijk een fenomenale wijn. Rood en zwart fruit animeren de neus. Eén en al verkwikkende rijkelijkheid met zachte souplesse en aromatische variatie in de mond. Sappig fruit van kersjes met een discrete chocoladetoets vervolledigen de gepolijste, fluwelen textuur op voorbeeldige wijze, terwijl het frisse fruit mag blijven doorschemeren in de majestueuze finale. Dit is het meest uitblinkend voorbeeld van wat de Rechteroever te bieden heeft in 2017. Bélair Monange is zonder de minste twijfel één van dé wijnen van het jaar. Beperkt beschikbaar. Ons raadplegen, want trouwe klanten krijgen voorrang.
Geen vorst op deze wijngaard gelegen op een hoger gelegen kalkhoudend plateau en hellingen van blauwe klei op kalk (23,5 hectare, waarvan 14 in productie). 90% Merlot en 10% Cabernet Franc. Enkele van deze wijnstokken zijn meer dan een eeuw oud. Vraag ons naar de tweede en derde wijnen, Annonce en Haut Roc Blanquant.
IN DE PERS
96 Neal Martin – vinous.com (Februari 2020)
The 2017 Bélair-Monange was so impressive out of barrel and now in bottle, I see no reason to alter my appreciation. It has a very intense bouquet, one that is reassuringly complex, especially in context of what was a rather ordinary growing season with copious red cherries, boysenberry, hints of iodine and a light terracotta scent. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins that are surprisingly rigid at the moment, suggesting that this will be a long term Saint-Émilion. There is a beguiling sense of symmetry, very mineral-driven towards the finish that has impressive sapidity. This comes highly recommended although it deserves five or six years in bottle. Bravo Christian and Edouard Moueix. Drink 2025-2050.
94-96 Neal Martin – vinous.com (Mei 2018)
The 2017 Bélair-Monange is fast-becoming the jewel in the crown of J-P Moueix, and also the home of Edouard Moueix and his family. It has a very perfumed and winsome bouquet, so pure and delineated with crystalline red cherries, crushed strawberry and very subtle cassis scents that are sutured with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin. Tensile from the start, this Bélair-Monange conveys a sense of tension and energy that lingers on the aftertaste, a touch of white pepper leaving the tongue tingling 30 seconds after it has departed. This is an assured, and bewitching Saint-Émilion, one that is really beginning to fire on all cylinders. Drink 2023-2045.
96 Antonio Galloni – vinous.com (Maart 2020)
The 2017 Bélair-Monange is ripe and explosive in the glass, with tremendous fruit density and a real sense of power. Exotic spice, mocha, sweet pipe tobacco, cinnamon and floral notes add layers of nuance to a core of super-ripe dark red and purplish fruit in this sumptuous, flamboyantly ripe Saint-Émilion. Soft curves give the 2017 tons of immediacy, but there is also more than enough freshness and structure to support many years in the cellar. Drink 2025-2057.
94-97 Antonio Galloni – vinous.com (Mei 2018)
The 2017 Bélair-Monange is shaping up to be a real gem. Flamboyantly ripe and exotic, the 2017 possesses terrific richness and aromatic intensity. Charcoal, menthol, licorice, plum, and black cherry infuse this sumptuous yet mid-weight Saint-Émilion. Bélair-Monange is a wine of tremendous power and intensity, but is also on the riper side of things. "Psychologically, it is very hard to drop crop when many of your neighbors have lost yield because of the frost," Christian Mouex told me. "But we knew it was the right thing to do."
95 Jane Anson – decanter.com (April 2018)
A real success in the vintage, from an estate unaffected by frost. This wine is showing some beautiful floral notes, followed by a palate with lingering aromatics that tease. The well-handled, rich but flexible tannins lend an austerity that bodes well for ageing. The wine really opens up in the glass, and although it's a tighter effort than in the past few years, they are staking their claim to be among the best St-Émilions on the plateau. This is a gorgeous wine, and that austerity is going to fill out beautifully during barrel ageing. Drink 2026-2040.
98 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW – robertparker.com (Maart 2020)
Made of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Belair Monange is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. With a little swirling, this baby comes bounding out of the glass with energetic notes of wild blueberries, Morello cherries, baked plums and black raspberries with wafts of Indian spices, lavender, garrigue and tobacco plus a hint of licorice. Medium to full-bodied, the black and blue fruit dance playfully on the palate with fantastic freshness to lift the bold flavors and a superb frame of ripe, velvety tannins. It finishes very long and with amazing zing. So tempting to drink now, but make no mistake—this is one for the long haul! Drink 2024-2070.
96-98 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW – robertparker.com (April 2018)
A final blend of 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Belair Monange has a flamboyant nose of potpourri, Indian spices, Sichuan pepper, hoisin and sandalwood over a core of crème de cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry preserves with a waft of dusty earth. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich and seductive with oodles of freshness and layers of floral and spice notions, finishing long.
94-95 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (Maart 2018)
A compacted and seamless young wine with ripe and fine tannins, focused dark fruit and a flavorful finish. A beauty.
17/20 Julia Harding MW – jancisrobinson.com (April 2018)
Inky crimson. Cassis dominates the nose. Tannins are so supple already and the whole is caressing and gorgeous even with the Moueix 'house style' of dark, minerally restraint. Lovely long, dry finish. Drink 2024-2035.
92-94 Jeb Dunnuck – jebdunnuck.com (April 2018)
Coming from separate vineyards located both on the limestone-driven upper plateau and the slightly more clay and limestone hillsides, the 2017 Château Belair-Monange checks in as 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc brought up in roughly 50% new oak. It's a gorgeous wine on all accounts and has more depth and richness than most. Cassis, crushed flowers, cherries, spice, and earthy notes all flow to a medium to full-bodied, layered, complex 2017 that has juicy acidity and sensational purity of fruit. Give bottles 2-3 years and enjoy over the following 10-15.
95-96 Jean-Marc Quarin – quarin.fr (April 2018)
92-95 James Molesworth – winespectator.com (Maart 2018)
Ripe and fresh, featuring delightful plum and raspberry fruit pushing outward, while light savory, mineral and red licorice notes add range through the finish. Sneakily long, with the minerality showing some stamina.
17-17,5/20 Revue des Vins de France – rvf.com (April 2018)
95-97 Roger Voss – wineenthusiast.com (April 2018)
Bélair MonangeBélair Monange is één van de allermooiste terroirs van Saint Emilion, hoog op de helling naast Ausone. Generaties terug was Bélair aanzien als de betere van de twee en dit kan weer het geval worden. De nieuwe eigenaar, Edouard Moueix, leverde grote inspanningen sinds de aankoop in de zomer van 2008: de gebouwen werden gerehabiliteerd en een heraanplanting van de wijngaard werd gestart. Om dit mogelijk te maken werden Magdelaine en Bélair samengevoegd in 2012. Bélair werd Bélair Monange in eerbetoon aan de overgrootmoeder van de eigenaar, Mme Adèle Monange (1887-1972). Voortaan prijkt de Engel van Albrecht Dürer in rode inkt op het etiket. MoueixAls zoon van Christian en kleinzoon van Jean-Pierre, distingeert Edouard Moueix zich door de heropwaardering van één van de mooiste historische wijngaarden van Saint Emilion: Château Bélair Monange. | |
