Chateau Belair

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

1er Grand Cru Classé B

last update : Sunday 27 November 2011

Dating back to Gallo-Roman times, Château Belair has been a Premier Grand Cru classé B ever since the first official Saint-Emilion classification in 1954.

The terroir consists of clay-limestone slopes and an asteriated limestone plateau. As a result of stone being quarried here from the 14th to 19th centuries, Château Belair boasts remarkable underground cellars.

For over 20 years, the previous owner, Pascal Delbeck, has applied biodynamic and organic viticultural techniques. These involve respecting natural cycles and close observation of the environment, as well as taking into account the phases of the moon.

In 2008, the Moueix family has bought a majority stake in Château Belair. It is generally felt that Christian Moueix will preserve the wine's pure and "non-standardised" style, as he had done for so many years at Pétrus. To distinguish the property from dozens of brands of similar name, Château Belair was renamed Château Belair Monange from the 2008 vintage.

In the Bottle

Château Belair makes complex, beautiful, straight wines.

2005 and 2000 Belair are considered among the appellation's greatest successes.

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WINE PRODUCED BY THE ESTATE

Belair Monange, Haut Roc Blanquant (second wine)

COMPARISON WITH AOC - SAINT-EMILION GRAND CRU

Vintage	Absolute score	Relative score to the Appellation	Standard deviation

2009	92.9	101.5	1.24
2008	90.5	100.3	1.58
2007	87.9	98.7	2.42
2006	89.8	99.9	2.29
2005	90.2	102.6	4.36
2004	87.1	100.1	3.43
2003	87.2	101.1	2.96
2002	87.8	102.8	1.91
2001	87.1	102.9	2.23
2000	91.7	106.4	4.87
1999	88.0	103.1	3.73
1998	86.0	97.7	2.45
1997	84.2	97.8	2.51

TASTING NOTES

Alain Bringolf - 08/2005

Deep, dark, ruby-red color.
Strong, classic St. Emilion aromas of very ripe red fruit, vanilla, licorice, and tobacco.
Exceptionally delicate and delightful on the palate with intense flavors. Superb structure. Well-balanced with soft tannin. Dense fruity core and a wonderful long, dark chocolate aftertaste.
Round and refined, this wine offers great pleasure as of now, but needs a few years to reach its peak.