{"product_id":"chateau-belair-monange-saint-emilion-grand-cru-2018-saint-emilion-bordeaux-france","title":"Chateau Belair-Monange Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2018 (Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, France) - [JS 99] [JD 98] [TWI 98] [WA 98] [WE 97] [DM 97] [VM 96] [WS 95]","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout this Winery:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChâteau Bélair-Monange traces its origins back to Roman times. Situated at the highest point of Saint-Émilion’s renowned limestone plateau, it has long been considered one of the region’s very best crus. In 1850 it was ranked by Cocks \u0026amp; Feret as the leading wine of Saint-Émilion, a position it held well into the twentieth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eÉtablissements Jean-Pierre Moueix purchased the iconic property in 2008 and immediately undertook extensive renovations of the vineyard, winery, underground quarries, and château in order to restore the cru to its earlier historic status. Originally known as Château Bélair, the property was renamed following the acquisition; in addition to its literal translation, ‘my angel,’ ‘Monange’ was the maiden name of Jean-Pierre Moueix’s mother, Anne-Adèle, the first Moueix woman to call Saint-Émilion her home.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout this Wine:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe winery has just under 58 acres planted primarily to Merlot (88%) with a small amount of Cabernet Franc (12%). The average vine age is 25 years and the wine itself is aged 16-18 months in 40% new French oak barrels.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e99 Points - James Suckling\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"Very intense blackberries, black olives, blueberries and dried flowers. Stony minerality. Even some pine. Full-bodied with superb depth of fruit and ultra fine tannins that are intense and polished. The finish is so long and delivers so much flavor, from wet earth to blackberry again. Seamless palate. Try after 2026.\" (Jan 2021)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e98 Points - Jeb Dunnuck\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"\u003cspan\u003eAn incredible expression of Merlot grown on limestone soils, the 2018 Château Belair-Monange (90\/10 Merlot and Cabernet Franc) sports a dense purple hue as well as powerful notes of blackcurrants, kirsch liqueur, flowery incense, chalky minerality, and white truffle. Rich, full-bodied, and beautifully concentrated, it's a serious 2018 offering integrated oak, ripe yet building tannins, and one hell of a great finish. The finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted, it's a wine to seek out and hide in the cellar for a good 5-7 years. It's going to evolve for 30-40 years.\" (Mar 2021)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e98 Points - The Wine Independent\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"The 2018 Belair-Monange has a deep garnet purple color. It is very closed, slightly reduced, requiring a lot of swirling to reveal notes of black raspberries, warm plums, and kirsch, plus hints of pencil lead, wild sage, tilled soil, and wet slate. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is firm and grainy, with tight-knit fruit and lots of earth and mineral layers on the long finish.\" – LPB (Feb 2023)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e98 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Belair Monange rolls effortlessly out of the glass with gregarious scents of black cherry preserves, stewed plums and boysenberries, plus suggestions of Indian spices, rose oil, Ceylon tea and garrigue, with a waft of tilled soil. The rich, seductive, full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Wonderfully hedonic and conceivably drinkable now, give it 4-5 years in the cellar to allow the earthy\/savory nuances to fully emerge from within the fruit and drink it over the next 25 years or more.\" – LPB (Mar 2021)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 Points - Wine Enthusiast\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Dense layers of black fruits mingle with dusty tannins in this wine. The powerful structure is beautifully balanced with ripe fruitiness in harmony with the concentration of the wine's texture. This wine will age well. Drink from 2027.\" - Roger Voss (May 2021)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e97 Points - Decanter Magazine\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"A gorgeous wine, with concentrated power offset by lift and lyricism. It fully expresses the character and personality of its location on the limestone plateau, showing real juiciness and a focussed minerality, with extremely flavourful crushed raspberry and blackberry fruits, and touches of peony and rose on the nose. This is delicious, graceful, spicy and persistent, with notes that spiral both downwards and upwards. The violet reflections are off the chart.\" - Jane Anson (Apr 2019)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e96 Points - Vinous Media\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"The 2018 Bélair-Monange races across the palate, showing its exuberant, flamboyant personality. Ripe plum, mocha, blood orange, star anise and cinnamon fill out the layers effortlessly. Sumptuous and generous, with striking balance, Bélair-Monange hits all the right notes. It can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, but also has the pedigree to age effortlessly for decades.\" – Antonio Galloni (Mar 2021)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e95 Points - Wine Spectator\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\"Restrained style, with gently mulled currant and black cherry notes forming the core while hints of anise, applewood and sweet tobacco peek through on the finish. Long, fine chalky minerality extends the finish as the fruit plays out gracefully. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2036. 2,665 cases made.\" – JM (Mar 2021)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"BREAKTHRU","offers":[{"title":"750 mL","offer_id":51761876631917,"sku":"","price":299.97,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/products\/thumb_463x1162_2014-11974-750_544d1e11-e78c-4164-bf1e-5a588927299e.jpg?v=1668633876","url":"https:\/\/artisan.wine\/products\/chateau-belair-monange-saint-emilion-grand-cru-2018-saint-emilion-bordeaux-france","provider":"Artisan W\u0026S","version":"1.0","type":"link"}