2021 Chateau Belair Monange - St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 95 pts – GH: *Cool blue fruit touches on the nose, excellent acidity gives a rush of succulent and mouth watering cherry and strawberry fruit before this settles quite quickly revealing the minerality so characteristic of this estate. Chalky, wet stone and graphite touches come in with a saltiness that perfectly balances the sweet and concentrated red fruits. This feels refined and well worked with a brightness that is so enjoyable. The 1% Cabernet Franc gives structure and backbone. It's a light style, this is more delicate and refined and all the better for it showing the class of the winemaking and nuances of the terroir. A real beauty.* - 04/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 94 pts – PM: *Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, breitere Randaufhellung. Schwarze Herzkirschen, ein Hauch von Edelholz und Nougat, mit feiner Kräuterwürze unterlegt, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, komplex, feine Fruchtsüße, angenehme Mineralik, reife, seidige Tannine, bleibt sehr lange haften, sicheres Reifepotenzial.* - 05/2022

WK - 04/22 - 93-95pts: "Offering up aromas of sweet cherries, cassis, pipe tobacco, loamy soil and spices, the 2021 Belair Monange is medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, with powdery tannins and a bright spine of acidity, concluding with a long, intensely saline finish. As young vines replanted on the plateau start to dominate the blend, the identity of this cru is becoming more and more marked, delivering wines of precision and sapidity."

Vinum Magazin – 18/20pts: *Superbe, besonders blumige Aromatik; entwickelt grosse Rasse und Frische, seidiges Tannin, sehnige Länge, aber auch grosse Tiefe und Dichte, Johannisbeerfinale; gehört zu den grossen Weinen des Jahres.* - 04/2022

WeinWisser – 18/20pts – GL, TW: *Zarter Beginn, rote Kirsche, getrockneter Rosmarin und Brasiltabak, dahinter zarte Fliedernoten und edle Cassiswürze. Am straffen Gaumen mit unglaublich viel Spannung am durchtrainierten Körper, weicher Textur, dunkler Mineralik und engmaschigem Tanningerüst. Im sehr präzisen Finale ein ruhender Pol mit Weichsel, Preiselbeersaft, Estragon und fein salzigem Extrakt – abwarten und Tee trinken!* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JL: *99% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Open and aromatic but with drive and definition on the palate. Fine tannins and freshness, the fruit and structure in balance. Gentle hand in extraction so more on elegance than power.* - 04/2022

04/22 - 94pts: "Couleur sombre et profonde. Nez très aromatique, au fruité à la fois vif et mûr. Délicat en entrée de bouche, savoureux au milieu, juteux et noble dans son toucher et ses arômes, le vin évolue vers une finale enveloppée, sans le corps des grands millésimes, mais la saveur est belle. Longueur normale. Assemblage : 99 % merlot, 1 % cabernet franc."

04/22 - 96-97pts: "Medium to full body with creamy, velvety tannins. Polished and plush. Pretty spice notes, such as white pepper and cloves to the ripe dark-plum and berry fruit. Some pine cones. Fine, ripe and textured. Concentrated for the vintage. Wonderful length, too."

Vinous.com – (93-95) pts – AG: *The 2021 Bélair-Monange is a very beautiful wine. Fruit forward and punchy, the 2021 makes quite a first impression. Ripeness is naturally less pushed here than in recent vintages - that is the year - but it is a style that works so well, as this site offers plenty of richness on its own. A rush of inky red/purplish fruit fills out the layers nicely. There's not a ton of nuance or detail yet, but that will likely come in time. This is very nicely done.* - 04/2022

NM - 04/22 - 90-92pts: "The 2021 Bélair-Monange was picked September 28 to October 2. It has an atypically ostentatious bouquet for the vintage – kirsch, blue fruit, a touch of violet petals – that needs to muster a little more delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chewy tannins, fine acidity and good substance, yet it clamps down toward the strict, linear finish. This does not have the persistence of the 2019 or 2020, and tasting the bottle twice (returning later on in the day for a different take), I cannot help but feel this top-ranking SaintÉmilion is struggling to nail down its identity this season. It’s definitely one I wish to revisit in the future to see whether I caught it at an inopportune moment."

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (94-95) pts – JL: *Deep ruby in color, the wine is filled with black raspberries, flowers, mint, and spices. On the palate, the wine is plush, soft, polished, fresh, vibrant, and long, finishing with crushed rocks, stones, chalk, and bright, fresh, red fruits, with just a touch of spearmint on the backend. The wine blends 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, Drink from 2023-2049.* - 05/2022