2018 Bellefont-Belcier, St-Emilion
SKU #1556287
95 points
James Suckling
A dense, rich red, yet the tannins are so fine and integrated with beautiful texture and finesse. It’s full-bodied, showing pretty balance and refinement with lots of exotic fruit and richness.
(1/2021)
94 points
Decanter
Well-located on the limestone slopes near Pavie, this has been under the ownership of Peter Kwok since 2017. Here he delivers a measured wine that has plenty of limestone character in a saline twist through the finish, while maintaining that St-Emilion gloss. Chocolate pods and just the right kind of bite; feels confident and with potential ahead. 30% new oak. (JA)
(11/2020)
94 points
Jeb Dunnuck
I continue to love this Saint-Emilion, which hails from a 12.5-hectare vineyard located just beside Larcis Ducasse, on the Côte Pavie hillside. Based on 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2018 Château Bellefont-Belcier's deep purple hue is followed by a ripe, medium to full-bodied 2018 with loads of blueberry and currant bud-like fruits as well as notes of leafy tobacco, spring flowers, truffle, and earth. Nicely textured, with fine, polished tannins and solid depth of fruit, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age and will evolve for 25 years or more.
(3/2021)
93 points
Vinous
The 2018 Bellefont-Belcier is superb. Expressive floral and savory top notes play off a core of inky dark fruit in a potent, heady Saint-Émilion loaded with character. Rose petal, lavender, spice and inky red/purplish fruit all open in the glass. The brooding tannins that once penalized this wine have been replaced by a great sense of finesse, and 2018 was just the first vintage. There is plenty to look forward to in future years. (AG)
(3/2021)
91-93 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Bellefont Belcier delivers profound notions of warm plums, baked cherries and mulberries with hints of spice cake and underbrush. Full-bodied, rich and decadent, it has a rock-solid backbone of rounded tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and spicy. Aging is in progress for an anticipated 20 months in 40% new, 40% one year-old and 20% two year-old barrels. The blend is 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. (LPB)
(4/2019)
90 points
Wine Spectator
Soft-edged and seductive, with creamed plum and steeped raspberry notes laced with hints of sweet spice and red tea. A pretty savory echo extends the finish nicely. (JM, Web-2021)
K&L Notes
92 points Neal Martin for Vinous: "The 2018 Bellefont-Belcier has quite an intense nose of predominantly black fruit plus graphite and sage. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, quite compact at the moment and probably closing in after bottling. But there is plenty of freshness here and it feels very harmonious, if slightly “playing it safe” on the finish. Cellar for several years." (03/2021)
