Chateau Belair-Monange Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2012 1.5Ltr

Name: Chateau Belair-Monange Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2012 1.5Ltr
Brand: Chateau Belair-Monange
SKU: 969945
Price: 309.95 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 94.1 (7 reviews)

Case of 3

1.5Ltr

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SKU 969945

$929.85/case

$309.95/bottle

Tariffs included

Availability: This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For more about Pre-arrival orders, see FAQ.

Pre-arrival

Case Only

Minimum order 3 bottles

JD 97pts

WA 95pts

TWI 95pts

JS 94pts

WS 93pts

DC 93pts

VM 92pts

See professional reviews

A Merlot-heavy blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc from an underrated vintage on the Right Bank, where 2012 is actually a brilliant year, the 2012 Château Bélair-Monange sports a lively ruby and plum hue with just a kiss of maturity starting to show at the rim. Classic Saint-Emilion aromatics of truffly earth, spice, and dried flowers intermix with a terrific core of ripe red and black berries on the nose. It’s wonderfully complex and medium to full-bodied on the palate, with soft, polished tannins, a round, layered mouthfeel, and incredible purity. Reminding me slightly of an improved 2009, this beauty will continue drinking well for another 10-15 years, with a gradual decline thereafter. Drink 2026-2041.

Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Appellation: Saint Emilion

Size: 1.5Ltr
Color: Red

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SKU: 969945 Categories: Pre-arrival, Right Bank Bordeaux

More about this item

Winery

Chateau Belair-Monange

Shop all from Chateau Belair-Monange

Varietal

Red Bordeaux

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world's finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six 'official' Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act â€“ the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.

Country

France

France, often regarded as the heart of the wine world, boasts a rich history, diverse terroirs, and a captivating variety of grape varietals. From the renowned vineyards of Bordeaux to the picturesque landscapes of Burgundy, France offers a wine lover’s dream journey. Whether you’re new to the world of wine or a seasoned enthusiast looking […]

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Region

Bordeaux

Bordeaux: The Pinnacle of Terroir Expression In the illustrious realm of wine, Bordeaux stands as a beacon of excellence, where history, tradition, and terroir converge to create some of the world’s most iconic wines. Bordeaux’s rich mosaic of vineyards is characterized by the left bank, right bank, and the sweet symphony of Sauternes. Each of […]

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Appellation

Saint Emilion

The beautiful sub-region of Saint Emilion in France's legendary Bordeaux region is regarded as the home of many of the world's finest red wines. The blending techniques employed in Saint Emilion have been passed down for generations, and aim to express the very finest flavors of the grape varietals used, most commonly Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The climatic conditions in Saint Emilion are perfect for growing many of the Bordeaux grapes, and high yields of exceptional quality are commonplace. Fed by the mighty Gironde river and benefiting from superb clay and gravel based soils, Saint Emilion produces millions of bottles of high quality blended and unblended red wines each year, and continues to be a firm favorite of wine experts and the general public alike.

Ratings & Reviews

JD 97pts

Jeb Dunnuck

A brilliant showing, the 2012 Château Belair-Monange comes from a great terroir that is being resurrected by the Moueix team, located on a south-facing hillside just outside of Saint-Emilion. Sporting a deep ruby hue, it offers a beautiful bouquet of red and black fruits, truffly earth, graphite, and subtle smoke. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it's shed most of its baby fat and is just a classy, elegant, yet concentrated Saint-Emilion that does everything right. It's now in its prime drinking window, but I'd wager it has another two decades – or more – of overall longevity. Count yourself lucky if you have these in the cellar.

WA 95pts

Wine Advocate

With some of the oldest vines in all of Bordeaux, especially one parcel from 1905, Belair Monange’s 2012 (14.5% alcohol) is a tribute to this great terroir that was poorly managed and exploited prior to the family of Jean-Pierre Moueix taking over. Now it is Christian Moueix and his son Edouard who manage the property and produce the wine. The 2012 is a beauty, with a deep ruby/purple color, complex notes of minerals, crushed rock, red and black fruits, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, great texture, long finish and true ability and character. It should age beautifully for 20 or more years and yet be drinkable another three or four. Production is small, as only 1,300 cases were produced.

TWI 95pts

The Wine Independent

Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Belair-Monange shows evolved notes of cigar box, sauteed herbs, and spice box giving way to a core of dried figs and plum pudding scents, plus a touch of graphite. The full-bodied palate offers appealing freshness with elegant fruit and a lively backbone, finishing long and perfumed.

JS 94pts

James Suckling

Wonderful wine for the vintage with firm and silky tannins, savory and ripe fruit as well as hints of earth and mushrooms. Chalk and citrus undertones. Full body and a beautiful finish. Addition of Magadeline vineyards shows promise and expanded quality. Better after 2017.

WS 93pts

Wine Spectator

Very charming, pure and supple in feel, with a slightly open-knit texture allowing the notes of cherry preserves, raspberry coulis and fresh damson plum to play out with an almost breezy air. The minerality checks in as you would expect, but much more so through the finish than up front. Very elegant.—Non-blind Bélair-Monange vertical (December 2016). Drink now through 2028. 1,506 cases made.

DC 93pts

Decanter

2012 was the first vintage with the two estates brought together, after agreement from the St-Emilion classification committee. Even so, they produced no more bottles than in 2011 (around 18,000) because so much of the vineyard had been pulled up due to both ongoing work with the quarries under Bélair-Monange and old vines being pulled up at Magdelaine. It wasn't the easiest vintage, with an unstable spring and cool July, but a hot August and relatively dry weather until harvest meant that they were able to showcase the possibilities of this new arrangement in the Moueix stable. There are plenty of delicate aromas evident here, with a juicy and mouthwatering attack. The complexity of the finish is just as evident, stretching out on the palate with layers of liquorice and tobacco, and overall this has a lovely balance and a good amount of power.

VM 92pts

Vinous Media

The 2012 Bélair-Monange brings together power and finesse in what is a very complete expression of Saint-Emilion. Beams of supporting tannins give the 2012 much of its energy. Red stone fruit, chalk, mint, spice and expressive floral notes are all nicely delineated. I expect the Bélair-Monange will drink better earlier than the other top wines in the Moueix stable. This is the first vintage that incorporates the Magdelaine vineyards, which were annexed in 2012. Bélair-Monange is now under the direction of Edouard Moueix, who lives on the property and seems determined to take the estate to the top of the hierarchy in Saint-Emilion. The 2012 is certainly a strong move in that direction.