Château Bélair-Monange, 2023

"The 2023 Belair-Monange, 100% Merlot, is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a few moments of patient swirling to allow delicate notes of warm black cherries, plum preserves, and raspberry coulis to emerge, followed by alluring hints of iris, cinnamon stick, and mossy tree bark. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut with tightly wound red and black berry layers, framed by fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. This is breathtakingly gorgeous!"

"There’s finesse and beauty to this, with blackberry, dark-chocolate, bark, mushroom and forest-floor character. But it’s all class. Caresses your palate. Medium- to full-bodied and very long. Persistent and sophisticated. This shows the true character of the diverse vineyards of this estate. 98% merlot and 2% cabernet franc."

"Makes you sit up and pay attention from the first moment, full of depth and power but delivered with a caress. The slate and pumice stone texture of a vineyard on the limestone plateau is in full effect, with a saline juiciness to the bilberry and black cherry fruit, shot through with white truffle and mandarin peel. Has zip and crunch, and a ton of pleasure. 50% new oak, 55% of overall production. First vintage made with the stunning new cellars designed by Herzog and de Meuron fully open and functional, although 2nd one vinified in them."