2009 Belair-Monange, St-Emilion
SKU #1108248
96 points
Vinous
The sophomore 2009 Belair-Monange has been variable from bottle to bottle so I was taken aback at the impressive performance here. It has a very opulent bouquet with plush red fruit, patisserie, candied orange peel, fig and dates. This is very open and expressive, very gourmand in style and though atypical, it is very seductive. The palate is almost viscous on the entry with plush red fruit, a touch of black pepper and oregano, slightly medicinal in style but very persistent. Blind, I thought it might be Tertre-Rôteboeuf but it turned out not to be. Still, this is just a superb showing. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. (NM)
(3/2019)
95 points
Jeb Dunnuck
Only the second vintage from this cuvee, the 2009 Chateau Belair-Monange comes from a beautiful terroir purchased by the Moueix family in 2008. The 2009 is still a baby, yet packed with potential. Black cherries, tobacco leaf, beautiful minerality and a floral character all emerge from this ripe, full-bodied, opulent wine that expands on the palate, has no hard edges, and a terrific purity of fruit. With sweet tannin and a stack mid-palate, it’s going to drink brilliantly for another three decades.
(12/2017)
94 points
James Suckling
Love the soft and velvety tannin with the milk chocolate and fruit character. Full and silky. Long and delicious. So fine. Best wine from this estate in decades. Maybe ever. Best after 2017.
(3/2012)
94 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
This extraordinary terroir, now exploited by Edouard Moueix, the son of Christian, seems to be coming to life in a dramatic fashion. Never a hedonistic wine, but very intellectual, the 2009 suggests a liqueur of crushed rocks intermixed with black currants and black cherries. Still somewhat closed, medium to full-bodied, and impressive rather than seductive, this is a structured wine that needs to be forgotten for at least a decade, and then drunk over the following 30+ years. If readers are looking for the quintessential example of a terroir-dominated wine, this is Lesson 101 in terroir. (RP) 94+
(2/2012)
94 points
Wine Enthusiast
A core of sweetness shows through this wine. It has juicy acidity shining prominently—it shows its fresh side immediately. Bélair-Monange is still a work in progress, although this will always be a delicious wine.
(2/2012)
93 points
Wine Spectator
Polished in feel, with alluring notes of cassis, cherry preserves and raspberry cream that impart a decidedly fruit-forward feel. There's enough subtle underlying tension to give the finish a racy edge and extend the length impressively.--Non-blind Bélair-Monange vertical (December 2016). Drink now through 2030. (JL, Web Only-2017)
90-92 points
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Lively deep ruby-purple. Rather inexpressive nose hints at a calcaire purity to its delicate aromas of floral red berries and minerals. Rich and chewy if a bit backward and sullen today, with pure flavors of blackberry, minerals and licorice. Dry, classic and very light on its feet, this should gain in complexity with elevage Finishes with a chalky calcaire quality and hints of spicy red fruits. This is an archetypical example of a mineral-driven, leaner style of wine that can get overlooked in blind tastings. (ID)
(6/2010)
K&L Notes
Sweet mid-palate. Decent length. Trey: High-toned red cherry fruit, spice and high acidity. A bit lean but still sweet.
