2021 Château Bélair-Monange | MG

Lots of lush blue and black fruits followed by violets, fresh mint, roasted almonds and black ink with vanilla beans and mocha. Full-bodied, refreshing acidity with firm and racy tannins. Broad and energetic mid-palate with a succulent and layered finish. Superb concentration with depth and tension. It’s difficult not to drink now but your patience will be rewarded. Try after 2027. (12/2023)

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. (06/2022)

Made from 99% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Belair-Monange is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It slowly unfurls to reveal perfumed waves of black cherries, raspberry coulis, lilacs, and jasmine tea, followed by hints of forest floor, powdered cinnamon, and star anise. The medium-bodied palate is so evocative, with impactfully intense and yet wonderfully restrained red and black fruit layers, supported by miraculously velvety tannins, leading to a long and so very fragrant finish. Just stunning! (05/2022)