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Château Belair Monange

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Château Belair Monange is refined and delicate St Emilion from the JP Moueix stable.

  • 2015 Mid depth; healthy colour; right to the rim; fragrant and fruity aromatics; plums; nice delicacy; like Canon aromatically [the terroir neighbours the property]; some spices; lovely palate; quite delicious St Emilion – light on its feet; but plenty of depth; excellent wine. I may be underrating this. Very good length indeed. [88% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 24ha]. Drink 2020-2035. 95-97+
  • 2014 Mid depth; deep at core; fresh and delicate perfume; spice and plum; red fruits; satin; palate has chalky wet rock minerality; substantial; vibrant and nice acid again; lovely purity; wet rock and some chalk; [second sample] fresher bottle – substantial; little unyielding but very pure aromatics; palate has density and poise but also freshness; real purity too; some of that wet rock chalk notes; but lovely acid and freshness and juicy fruit too. Tasted JP Moueix 1 April, 2015. Drink 2020-2035. 92-94
  • 2013 Mid depth; delicate aromatics; charming easy wine on the palate with freshness. Elegant. May fill out further during elevage. Just 1000 cases made. Drink 2018-2025. Tasted JP Moueix 2/4/14. 88-90
  • 2012 Mid depth, healthy colour; vibrant edge; fresh nose, minerality; nice fruit, attractive entry, some perfumed fruit; fresh and refreshing. Elegant wine but has depth and intensity. Never that showy early on. Now incorporates Magdelaine – only 1300 cases produced. 100% Merlot. 91-93+
  • 2011 Mid depth; deep core, purple at edge; purity, some spice, wet rock, blackcurrants and spicy briary tones; violets here too – not dissimilar to the Magdelaine – summer fruits again. Sweet entry, bright fruit, soft and harmonious; elegant and pure; confidence here to let the vintage express itself. Chew and bite on the finish. Plenty of grip and structure here. Tasted at JP Moueix 4/4/12. 90-92 [Second note]. Deepish, earthy red at edge; not completely tight; some earth, blackcurrants, quite full; less wet rock more meat and cassis; sweet attack; more chew and desity; not a bad effort. Fruit here – black cherry, plum and spice. Grippy finish but good bite and chew. Length. 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 40% new oak. Tasted blind at Groupement de Premiers Grands Crus Classes de Saint-Emilion at Chateau Canon 6/4/12. 90-92+
  • 2010 Deep; fresh and vibrant aromatics with black cherry and spicy plum notes; very attractive and vivid; spicy menthol tones too; plum and cherry tones continue on the palate in a seam of fruit; very mannered and fresh feeling; some dust, spice and minerality on the finish. Impressive length too. Drink 2016-2030. 95 MW Institute Nov ’14 [Earlier note] Deep and saturated; ripe, liquorice, tar note; slightly burnt edge; layered; some menthol, very tight and layered; later some perfume, almost floral; fresh; density but fine extraction wonderfully handled. Great density and weight, very good length. Some heat on the finish but also grip here. 94-96/100. Tasted April 6 Groupement de Premiers Grands Crus Classes de Saint-Emilion.
  • 2009 Deep and saturated looking; purity here; some blackcurrant fruit, freshness here; stone fruit notes; blackcurrant fruits on the palate with real purity again; I really like this – has lots of freshness, elegance and length. Excellent effort. Attractive already but probably needs a few years first. Drink 2017-2035. 95+ MW Institute Nov ’13

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