Deze Bélair Monange is een bijzonder ambitieuze wijn met schitterende intensiteit. Samen met de 2012, is 2014 het beste wijnjaar sinds de nieuwe eigenaars de zaken in handen namen. Licht robijnrood gekleurd. De neus is zacht en rijp met tonaliteiten van vanilla en exotische kruiden. Verrukkelijk volmondig, met accenten van braambessen, zachte tannine en toetsen van zwarte bessen en compote. Het hart van de wijn bestaat uit een kern van rijp fruit. De finale is fris en verkwikkend. Prachtwijn!
IN DE PERS
93 Neal Martin – vinous.com (Maart 2018)
The 2014 Bélair-Monange has an open, aniseed-tinged bouquet with plenty of ripe red berry fruit. There is something playful and joyful about these aromatics that demand to be noticed. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, firm tannin, quite grippy in the mouth but there are some lovely liquorice and spice notes that come through on the finish. Excellent. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. Drink 2020-2050.
92 Neal Martin – Wine Journal – erobertparker.com (Maart 2017)
The 2014 Belair-Monange was a slightly perplexing wine when I tasted it from barrel, so I was intrigued to discover how it would perform now in bottle. It has what you might describe as a "straight-laced" bouquet: very direct and nicely delineated, albeit without the frills and nuances of some of the best Saint Emilion wines this vintage. There is an attractive wilted rose petal aroma that emerges with aeration, but I was seeking more intensity. The palate is better than the aromatics: silky smooth in texture, well-judged acidity, genuine depth and gentle grip in the mouth. There is tangible mineralité here, great focus with a sense of tension and "bite" towards the finish. I was probably being parsimonious with my score in barrel, although that is partly vindicated by the nose that needs to get its act together and match the potential of the palate. Let's see how this develops over the next few years. Drink 2020-2038.
89-91 Neal Martin – Wine Journal – erobertparker.com (April 2015)
The Château Belair-Monange 2014 has a surprisingly "outgoing" bouquet that is determined to make an impression: blackcurrant pastilles intermingling with truffle and iodine scents. The palate is medium-bodied and linear, underpinned by strict, slightly rigid tannins that lend this a masculine personality. It has a slight bitter note on the finish but a satisfying long, peppery aftertaste following suit. It is just missing a little substance and flair. Not a bad Belair-Monange by a long chalk, though I might actually have a preference for the 2012. Drink: 2018 – 2030.
96 Antonio Galloni – vinous.com (Februari 2017)
A huge, dramatic wine for the year, the 2014 Bélair-Monange possesses tremendous depth and overall intensity. Succulent black cherry, leather, spice and menthol are some of the many notes that flesh out in this dramatic, massively endowed Saint-Émilion. The fruit feels very ripe, yet there is plenty of underlying structure and acidity to balance things out. Since 2012, Bélair-Monange has been made from three parcels on gravel, clay and limestone. It is that very intersection that yields one of the most distinctive wines in Saint-Émilion. The 2014 is also the first vintage that includes fruit from the replanting done on the plateau. Bélair-Monange increasingly gives the two established flagships in the Moueix family's range (Trotanoy and La Fléur-Petrus) a run for their money. Drink 2024-2044.
17,5/20 Jancis Robinson – jancisrobinson.com (April 2015)
Thick and dense and very rich and opulent. Sweet and beguiling and round and velvety. Layers and confidence. Gorgeous stuff, with opulent scents and a great spread over the palate. Impressive! Drink 2024-2040.
96 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (Februari 2017)
93-94 James Suckling – jamessuckling.com (April 2015)
Lots of mineral, chalk and salt character with dark fruits. Full and powerful with firm tannins and a long finish. Compacted and tight with wonderful density and intensity.
95 James Molesworth - winespectator.com (Februari 2017)
15,5/20 Bettane & Desseauve
17/20 Bernard Burtschy
Vigneron Magazine N°28 (Maart 2017) - L’année débute bien avec un printemps doux et sec, suivi par un été où les violents orages sèment l’inquiétude. L’été indien salvateur permet de débuter les vendanges le 27 septembre, elles s’achèveront le 8 octobre. Composé de 88 % merlot en 12 % de cabernet franc, ce millésime s’exprime tout en verticalité, avec une tension calcaire qui force l’admiration; Ce tanin granuleux stylé qui s’installe en bouche définit pleinement le grand style du cru. On tient là un très grand millésime de garde dans un registre classique qu’il conviendra d’attendre au moins une dizaine d’années. 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. | 
