Chateau Belair Monange - St. Emilion 2018 (750ml)
Price: $204.00
| Producer | Chateau Belair Monange |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St. Emilion |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Sku | 1005666 |
| Size | 750ml |
James Suckling: 99 Points
Very intense blackberries black olives blueberries and dried flowers. Stony minerality. Even some pine. Full-bodied with superb depth of fruit and ultra fine tannins that are intense and polished. The finish is so long and delivers so much flavor from wet earth to blackberry again. Seamless palate. Try after 2026.
Wine Advocate: 98 Points
Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Belair Monange rolls effortlessly out of the glass with gregarious scents of black cherry preserves stewed plums and boysenberries plus suggestions of Indian spices rose oil Ceylon tea and garrigue with a waft of tilled soil. The rich seductive full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness finishing long and fragrant. Wonderfully hedonic and conceivably drinkable now give it 4-5 years in the cellar to allow the earthy/savory nuances to fully emerge from within the fruit and drink it over the next 25 years or more.
Jeb Dunnuck: 98 Points
An incredible expression of Merlot grown on limestone soils the 2018 Château Belair-Monange (90/10 Merlot and Cabernet Franc) sports a dense purple hue as well as powerful notes of blackcurrants kirsch liqueur flowery incense chalky minerality and white truffle. Rich full-bodied and beautifully concentrated it's a serious 2018 offering integrated oak ripe yet building tannins and one hell of a great finish. The finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted it's a wine to seek out and hide in the cellar for a good 5-7 years. It's going to evolve for 30-40 years.
Vinous: 96 Points
The 2018 Bélair-Monange races across the palate showing its exuberant flamboyant personality. Ripe plum mocha blood orange star anise and cinnamon fill out the layers effortlessly. Sumptuous and generous with striking balance Bélair-Monange hits all the right notes. It can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring but also has the pedigree to age effortlessly for decades. -- Antonio Galloni The 2018 Bélair-Monange so impressive out of barrel delivers now that it finds itself incarcerated by glass. It is endowed with a seriously impressive nose delivering blackberry and still that faint warm brick/terracotta scent shaved black truffle and a touch of clove. You could lose yourself completely in this bouquet. The palate has firmed up a little displaying more backbone than I recall. The dash of cracked black pepper liberally sprinkled over the finish curiously bears similarities to some of the Pomerols this vintage and the Cabernet Franc feels much more prominent than its 2% contribution to the blend would suggest. I adore this Saint-Émilion and it is going to benefit from 8?10 years in the cellar... if you can resist temptation that long. -- Neal Martin
Wine Enthusiast: 95-97 Points
Graceful Merlot shines in this wine. It has fines touch of tannins and acidity that come through to give the wine freshness and structure. It is elegant but with enough power and density to age well.
Wine Spectator: 95 Points
Restrained style with gently mulled currant and black cherry notes forming the core while hints of anise applewood and sweet tobacco peek through on the finish. Long fine chalky minerality extends the finish as the fruit plays out gracefully. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2036. 2665 cases made. ? JM
