2021 Château Bélair-Monange

The 2021 Bélair-Monange has turned out to be a relatively lightweight wine for this property. The floral bouquet is quite promising, but in the end, the 2021 lacks mid-palate depth, while the finish is both slender and short. I expected more.

- Antonio Galloni (12/2023)

Coming from multiple parcels (26 hectares) and just about all Merlot (there's a tiny 1% splash of Cabernet Franc), the 2021 Château Belair-Monange has quintessential Saint-Emilion limestone-driven minerality as well as a gorgeous perfume of red and black raspberries, leather, graphite, and savory flowers. A downright mineral bomb, this medium-bodied, nicely concentrated, balanced Saint-Emilion has plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, building tannins, and a great finish. Hide bottles for 3-5 years, and it's going to drink brilliantly over the following 15-20 years. It's another beautiful, elegant 2021 from the Moueix team. (04/2024)

A blend of 99% Merlot with 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Belair-Monange is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. After a little swirling, evocative scents of violets, star anise, and cloves emerge from the glass, leading to a core of raspberry coulis, black cherry preserves, and juicy plums, plus a touch of fertile loam. The medium-bodied palate is plush and spicy, with delightfully pure red and black berry layers, and a refreshing lift to the finish. (04/2024)

The ethereal 2021 Belair Monange shows its limestone terroir front and center in this cooler vintage, unwinding in the glass with notes of sweet cherries, minty red berries, raw cocoa and spices, followed by a medium to full-bodied, suave and polished palate that's pure, lively and mineral, concluding with a saline finish.

- William Kelley (02/2024)