2022, Château Belair-Monange, SAINT-ÉMILION 1er Grand Cru Classé

Bordeaux Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Franc

This is one of the best vineyards in Saint Emilion, perched at the top of the slope right next to Ausone, near Canon and above Angélus. Purchased by the Moueix family in 2008. It is clear that Edouard Moueix is transforming this château into one of the stars of Saint Emilion. 2022 blend is 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.

Beautiful quality here, all about measured delivery of the character of the vintage, with a slab of limestone minerality that sits squarely in the mid palate, emphasising the juicy pomegranate, orange rind, blackberry and raspberry fruits that slowly inch around, Will take its time to fully reveal, this is a really slow build and a vintage that needs time from this kind of terroir, but it's got all it need to go the distance. Edouard Moueix owner and director. Potential 100. 98-100 Jane Anson.

The 2022 Belair-Monange has a deep garnet-purple colour. It needs considerable swirling to unlock scents of blackberry preserves, mulberries, and plum pudding, followed by suggestions of chocolate box, cinnamon toast, Indian spices, and candied violets with a hint of tilled soil. Full-bodied, rich, concentrated, and truly impactful, the palate is beautifully layered and so, so plush, finishing very long and opulent. Pure decadence. 97-99 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW.

The 2022 Bél-Air Monange offers copious red fruit on the nose laced with graphite and sous-bois scents, gaining complexity in the glass. I love the detail and delineation of this wine. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-sculpted tannins that frame the layered mineral-rich fruit. Supremely focused with a surfeit of tension on the finish, there's an abiding sense of harmony and completeness to this Saint-Émilion that feels draped in limestone. A wine befitting their eye-catching new château building. 96-98 Neal Martin, Vinous.

Loads of mocha, red fruits and hazenut. Nuts too. Wild strawberries and violets. Full-bodied and juicy with dusty and fine tannins that spread across the palate. Lovely soft texture. Elegant and long. Rich and juicy at the end. 97-98 James Suckling.

Drinking Window: 2032 - 2070