2015 Château Bélair-Monange | DMG

The 2015 Belair-Monange has a strange bouquet at first, quite feral and animal, scents of smoked cigars and antique furniture permeating the red berry fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin, fresh and vibrant, well-knitted oak with good tension if a little conservative finish. It just needs to soften a little, lose some of its rigidity. I suspect this is not the best showing for what I maintain is a great Saint-Émilion. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

- Neal Martin (2019)

A charcoal and tobacco underpinning gives this energy, while the core of steeped plum, blackberry and black currant fruit unwinds slowly. Shows grip but remains very refined in feel overall, with a beautiful chalky thread adding nuance to the finish. This is lovely, but with some sneaky power in reserve. Best from 2023 through 2040. 2,398 cases made.

- J.M. 2018

This perhaps somewhat controversial marriage between the estates of Chateau Belair and Chateau Magdelaine—both Premier Grand Cru Classé Saint-Emilion estates—to form Chateau Bélair Monange hits pay-dirt with this spectacular 2015 release. Composed of 88% Merlot and 12% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2015 Belair Monange has the most singular nose of grilled meats, smoked game, iron ore and fallen leaves over a slowly unfurling ripe fruit core of crushed black plums, blackberry preserves and cassis with fragrant touches of star anise and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and opulent in the mouth, the palate reveals an arresting backbone of exquisitely ripe, very firm tannins and sparks of background acidity lifting and defining the rich, densely packed layers, culminating in an epically long and multifaceted finish. Possessing its own compellingly beautiful signature, this is a remarkably riveting wine that should not be missed.

- Lisa Perrotti-Brown (2018)