2021 Belair-Monange

The 2021 Château Belair-Monange continues to impress, and you could put this up with the top wines in the vintage with no issues. Floral notes of blue fruits, violets, chalky minerality, and spice define the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with a good mix of both richness and freshness, building tannins, and a great finish. Turning more mineral-laced, sappy, and floral as it sits in the glass, this is a complete, incredibly classy Saint-Emilion that will round into form with just a few years of bottle age. If you haven't heard of this château, trust me on this one, get on its bandwagon, as it's destined to be one of the greats in Saint-Emilion.

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.

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.