Chateau Belair-Monange 2022

FALSTAFF: "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."

VINUM: "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."

DECANTER: "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 well built - a racehorse. 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."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: „Composed of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2022 Belair-Monange has a deep garnet-purple color. It needs considerable swirling to unlock scents of blackberry preserves, mulberries, and plum pudding, followed by suggestions of chocolate box, cinnamon toast, Indian spices, and candied violets with a hint of tilled soil. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated, and truly impactful, the palate is beautifully layered and so, so plush, finishing very long and opulent. Pure decadence."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "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."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Loads of mocha, red fruits and hazenut. Nuts too. Wild strawberries and violets. Full-bodied and juicy with dusty and fine tannins that spread across the palate. Lovely soft texture. Elegant and long at the end. Rich and juicy at the end. 98% merlot and 2% cabernet franc."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Another beautiful vintage for this cuvée, the 2022 Château Belair-Monange is 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc coming from a mix of terroirs on the upper plateau and hillside vineyard just outside of Saint-Emilion. This dense plum-hued effort offers up an incredible bouquet of black raspberries, chalky minerality, spring flowers, and graphite. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it has an incredibly sense of minerality, a great mid-palate, and enough structure to warrant a solid 7-8 years of bottle age."

WEINWISSER: "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 preis gibt! 2030 – 2060."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Aromas of blackberries, cherry preserve, black tea and licorice introduce the 2022 Belair Monange, a full-bodied, deep and powerful wine with a layered, somewhat liqueured core of fruit, powdery tannins and a long, expansive and slightly heady finish. Perhaps because the vines are younger, this is the cuvée in the Mouiex portfolio that shows the ripeness of the vintage the most this year."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "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."