2022 Chateau Belair Monange - St. Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 98 pts – GH: *A fabulous wine in the making. Perfumed aromatics on the nose, ripe black fruits and purple flowers. Clean and intense, grippy straight away, the tannins give the impact and hold the attention, ripe fruit, but lean cool mineral tannins that provide both the freshness and sense of structure. Focussed with bite and depth, stylish and sure, I love the liquorice tang, not spiced at all but giving an extra level of minerality, terroir and freshness. Still quite shy to an extent, it's serious but so polished and pure. Refined and superbly well built. Juicy but controlled, not too sharp, or severe, quiet, calm, persistent and well balanced. Gorgeous terroir markers and a chalky texture on the finish that is so moreish. Potential upscore in bottle. Harvest 8-20 September.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 100 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Kern, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Zart nach Trüffel, Velours, feine dunkle Waldbeeren, etwas Kirsche und Lakritze, tabakige Nuancen, ungemein vielschichtiges Bukett. Saftig, engmaschig, feine Fruchtsüße, reife, tragende Tannine von perfekter Reife, verfügt über eine beeindruckende Vertikalität, enorme Länge und großes Zukunftspotenzial, kann in diesem Jahr sein klasse Terroir voll ausspielen, ein herausragender Wein mit salzigem Nachhall, der minutenlang anhält.* - 01/2023

Vinum Magazin – 19,5/20 pts: *Zurückhaltende, viel versprechende, mineralisch-fruchtige Würze; im Mund beeindruckt die enorme Dichte und Tiefe, das Tannin aus Samt und Seide die grosse Rasse und Länge und die trotz der Konzentration einmalige Harmonie und Eleganz; der beste Belair aller Zeiten.* - 04/2023

WeinWisser – 18,5/20pts – GL, TW: *98 % Merlot, 2 % Cabernet Franc. Verhaltener Beginn, zarte rotbeerige Konturen, Graphit und Flieder. Im zweiten Ansatz Brasiltabak, Preiselbeersaft und Red Currant. Am sublimen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, verlangendem Tanningerüst, vibrierender Rasse, tiefgründigem mineralischem Kern – erinnert mich spontan an Ausone. Im konzentrierten Finale Wildkirsche, schwarze Oliven und fordernde Adstringenz. Ein Wein, der viel Geduld benötigt und seine wahre Schönheit aktuell (noch) nicht vollständig preisgibt!* – 04/2023

JancisRobinson.com – 17,5/20pts – JL: *98% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Slightly timid on the nose but deep, fresh and complex. Lovely texture, the tannins ripe and rounded. Plenty of energy and drive, the finish long and persistent with a chalky-terroir note. Looks to have the reserve for ageing.* - 04/2023

Vinous.com – (95-97) pts – AG: *The 2022 Bélair-Monange is all class. Silky and sensual, Bélair-Monange is utterly captivating from the first taste. Crushed red berry fruit, mint, cinnamon, rose petal and lavender add gorgeous aromatic lift to play off a core of bright red-toned fruit. All the elements are beautifully balanced throughout.* - 04/2023

Vinous.com – (96-98) pts – NM: *The 2022 Bél-Air Monange was picked from 8 to 20 September. It offers copious red fruit on the nose laced with graphite and /sous-bois/ scents, gaining complexity in the glass. I love the detail and delineation of this wine. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-sculpted tannins that frame the layered mineral-rich fruit. Supremely focused with a surfeit of tension on the finish, there's an abiding sense of harmony and completeness to this Saint-Émilion that feels draped in limestone. A wine befitting their eye-catching new château building.* - 04/2023

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (97-99) pts – JL: *Dark in color, the wine pops with its notes of flowers, licorice, plums, espresso and chocolate-covered cherries in the perfume. But, it is on the palate which somehow remains perfectly balanced between all of the wines concentration, intensity, richness, and freshness. Nothing is out of place. 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 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Harvesting took place September 8 - September 20. Drink from 2027-2055.* - 05/2023