Chateau Bellefont Belcier 2023

JAMES SUCKLING: "This well-defined and sophisticated wine shows a gorgeous center-palate of near perfectly ripe fruit. Lots of dark berries and minerals with some pine, while the texture is full and compact with layers of well-integrated, fine tannins. The finish is seamless. Just a hint of salt at the end of the pretty fruit. 72% merlot, 18% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2023 Bellefont Belcier demonstrates this property's continuing renaissance, exhibiting more density and seriousness as the team starts to get the best out of their holdings on the plateau of Saint-Émilion overlooking the slopes that surround the château. Offering up aromas of dark berries and cherries mingled with hints of burning embers and iris, it's medium to full-bodied, supple and fleshy, with a layered core of fruit, powdery structuring tannins and a long, penetrating finish."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, dezenter Ockerrand. Zart nach kandierten Veilchen und Lakritze, reife Herzkirschen, feines Brombeerkonfit, schwarze Kirschen, kandierte Mandarinenzesten. Saftig, elegant, frische dunkle Waldbeeren, kraftvolle, tragende Tannine, salzige Mineralität im Abgang, kalkige Terroirwürze im Nachhall, bleibt haften, vermittelt Frische und Länge, gutes Entwicklungspotenzial."