Tasting Notes
JancisRobinson.com 18
Tasted blind. Second bottle poured was very similar to the first, possibly less fresh! Bright, dense crimson. Subtle nose. Rich and shaded. Complex and subtle. Long and quite alcoholic.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2040
Vinous 96
The 2018 Belair-Monange races across the palate, showing its exuberant, flamboyant personality. Ripe plum, mocha, blood orange, star anise and cinnamon fill out the layers effortlessly. Sumptuous and generous, with striking balance, Belair-Monange hits all the right notes. It can be enjoyed with minimal cellaring, but also has the pedigree to age effortlessly for decades.
Anticipated maturity: 2026-2058
Robert Parker 98
Made from 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Belair Monange rolls effortlessly out of the glass with gregarious scents of black cherry preserves, stewed plums and boysenberries, plus suggestions of Indian spices, rose oil, Ceylon tea and garrigue, with a waft of tilled soil. The rich, seductive, full-bodied palate is laden with black fruit preserves and exotic spice layers, framed by velvety tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Wonderfully hedonic and conceivably drinkable now, give it 4-5 years in the cellar to allow the earthy/savory nuances to fully emerge from within the fruit and drink it over the next 25 years or more.
Anticipated maturity: 2025-2050
