Bellefont Belcier 2018

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. It doesn't quite have the depth or density I remember from barrel, but it's still a beautiful wine.

Intense aromas and flavors of blue fruit and violets. Hints of green tea and black olives. Changes all the time. Medium-to full-bodied with polished and very silky tannins. Love the center palate. The finish lasts for minutes. This year, about one-third cabernet franc gives an edge to the merlot and the touch of cabernet sauvignon.

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.

Barrel sample. Darkest cherry red. Ripe dark-red fruit and damsons on the nose. Firm tannins but juicy at the core. OK but not a standout. 14.3%
Drink 2023-2029

Creamy and rich on the nose, with a primary sweetness of jammy fruit and baked vanilla. The palate adds more freshness through acidity, which balances the sweeter red fruit notes with juicy blueberries and crunchy black cherry. The finish adds herbal, spicy notes that frame the ripe core and add to the intrigue and balance.

(70 Merlot, 25 Cabernet Franc, 5 Cabernet Sauvignon) | 30% new oak | 14.3% alc | 37 hl/ha | Production is 55000 bottles | Harvested between the 20th September and 10th October A suave and controlled Bellefont-Belcier with much of the flavour sitting right at the back of the palate and this is fascinating because it builds slowly to a crescendo of flavour. The palate is sleek and not as dense as many wines on account of the elegance and freshness of the Cabernet Franc which also adds perfume and class. A slow wine to evolve, this will be a classic, but one must wait for more than a decade for this wine to blossom.