2009 Belair-Monange
Buying options
Tasting Notes
This extraordinary terroir, now exploited by Edouard Moueix, the son of Christian, seems to be coming to life in a dramatic fashion. Never a hedonistic wine, but very intellectual, the 2009 suggests a liqueur of crushed rocks intermixed with black currants and black cherries. Still somewhat closed, medium to full-bodied, and impressive rather than seductive, this is a structured wine that needs to be forgotten for at least a decade, and then drunk over the following 30+ years. If readers are looking for the quintessential example of a terroir-dominated wine, this is Lesson 101 in terroir. Wine Advocate.February, 2012
Critic Scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
Love the soft and velvety tannin with the milk chocolate and fruit character. Full and silky. Long and delicious. So fine. Best wine from this estate in decades. Maybe ever. Best after 2017. James Suckling, jamessuckling.com
Light to mid crimson. Ripe cherries and minerals on the nose. Very fresh and delicate. A really light hand on the tiller here. Enough substance but very far from a fruit bomb. Interesting chalky texture on the finish.
Tasted at JP Moueix. There is a slight exotic touch to the aromatics of this Belair-Monange, candied red-berried fruits, a touch of orange-zest, apricot and dried honey. Well-defined, expanding with aeration with hints of vanilla essence. The palate is medium-bodied, very tight at the moment with firm tannins, quite compact and reticent, but there is certainly a sense of coiled-up energy towards the finish. Hopefully, it will be more expressive after bottling. Tasted March 2010
About the producer
Château Bélair-Monange sits at the highest point of Saint-Émilion neighbouring Château Ausone. The steep slope vineyards offers some of the most beautiful vistas overlooking the historic town of Saint-Émilion.