Château Belair Monange, 1er Grand Cru Classé, St Emilion, 2023
Belair Monange, which incorporates the vineyards of Belair and Magdelaine, occupies an enviable position on the limestone Cote to the west of Chateau Ausone. This was the first vintage vinified in the new, state of the art winery. Initially quite closed, with aeration glorious notes emerge of clear, bright cane fruits, tobacco and iris; wonderfully vivid, the palate has impressive torque, packed with refined fruit, creme de mûre and whippy core of graphite. Very suave, with great tension and a core supported by refined, mineral inflected tannins. Concentrated but in no way heavy. A superb Belair Monange.
critic reviews
The 2023 Bélair-Monange is another addition to the canon of great wines in recent years from this estate. Now in bottle, it has a fragrant and generous bouquet, beautifully defined, a mélange of red and black fruit, forest floor, shavings of black truffle and light tobacco scents. It is actually a bit Pomerol in style. The palate is medium-bodied with chiseled tannins matched by a perfect line of acidity. Silky smooth in texture that disguises the backbone of this Saint-Émilion, it forms a very complete wine that will surely age with style. Highly recommended.
The 2023 Belair-Monange, 100% Merlot, is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a few moments of patient swirling to allow delicate notes of warm black cherries, plum preserves, and raspberry coulis to emerge, followed by alluring hints of iris, cinnamon stick, and mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut with tightly wound red and black berry layers, framed by fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. This is breathtakingly gorgeous!
Makes you sit up and pay attention from the first moment, full of depth and power but delivered with a caress. The slate and pumice stone texture of a vineyard on the limestone plateau is in full effect, with a saline juiciness to the bilberry and black cherry fruit, shot through with white truffle and mandarin peel. Has zip and crunch, and a ton of pleasure. 50% new oak, 55% of overall production. First vintage made with the stunning new cellars designed by Herzog and de Meuron fully open and functional, although 2nd one vinified in them.
The 2023 Belair Monange is the first vintage from this newly created property that incorporates a balance of fruit from the plateau and fruit from the hillsides, as restructured and replanted parcels are returning to production. Wafting from the glass with attractive aromas of raspberries, violets and kirsch mingled with hints of incense, licorice and rose petals, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, with a deep and textural core of fruit, lively acids and powdery tannins, retaining a cool, ethereal profile that foregrounds its limestone origins.