Chateau Belair-Monange 2010

Professional reviews

Robert Parker (96)

An absolutely magnificent wine from Christian Moueix and his son Edouard, this wine is right up there with their 2009 and may eclipse it in terms of its potential longevity. Dense purple, with a near-liqueur of crushed rocks and chalk intermixed with blueberry, black raspberry and cassis, this wine is very full-bodied for a Belair, with ethereal complexity and impressive texture and length. I believe this is the first vintage of the wine to be released in an engraved bottle, which seems to be the direction of all the top estates in the Jean-Pierre Moueix stable. More evidence of concerned Bordelais attempting to stop criminals intent on producing fraudulent bottles of these limited production wines. Forget this baby for 7-8 years and then look for it to evolve over three decades-plus.

Obviously, the Moueix family has been investing considerable money and effort into this famous vineyard, which was one of Bordeaux’s most notable underachievers for many decades. It is certainly back now, with yields cut drastically, and the fruit harvested at a much riper stage, producing a wine that truly exploits this great terroir adjacent to Ausone.

Winespectator (94)

Rather toasty today, with mocha and baker's chocolate notes weaving around the dense core of black currant and plum sauce. Flashes of hoisin sauce and tar add a nicely edgy feel on the long, dense finish, which needs cellaring to unwind fully. But there's some serious minerality buried here, so this will be worth the wait

Rene Gabriel (18)

Rene Gabriel rates this wine 18/20 points.