Château Bellefont-Belcier Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé 2022 i trækasse

Tastingbook.com

Jane Anson

Concentrated deep plum colour, beautifully measured capturing the power of the vintage without being overblown. Opens with a burst of fresh red roses and violets on the nose, and the black cherry and damson fruits are shot through with a ton of saffran and turmeric. Mouthwatering sapidity on the finish, this is a brilliant Bellefont Belcier and absolutely one to look out for. 40hl/h yield; 30% new oak barrels for ageing, together with 30% unusual egg-shaped wooden vats, and the rest between one and two year old barrels. Emmanuelle Fulchi d'Aligny techincal director, moving over from Château Angélus, and this is the first full vintage under her direction (just did the blend of 2021).

Markus del Monego MW

Decanter

Gorgeous dark purple colour in the glass. It smells spiced and nuanced with dark bramble fruit touches. Smooth and shiny, this has a glamorous appeal with juicy, succulent fruit edged by a mineral liquorice aspect and some cool, crushed stone saltiness. I love the purity and charm here, not too tense or straight, more wide and expansive with plenty of friendliness. Totally seductive with acidity and fruit strength. Lovely. Tasted twice. Yield: 40hl/ha. 3.60pH. 30% new barrels. HVE3 certified.

Vert de Vin Magazine

Nice fresh nose that offers power, depth as well as a nice intensity in finesse and precision. It reveals notes of creamy blackberry, fresh Sichuan pepper and lighter notes of racy minerality combined with hints of bright/fresh fruit, sense of place (Mediterranean barrier), a hint of bright plum as well as a discreet hint of lilac, bergamot and spices. The palate is fruity, fresh, greedy, balanced, elegant, racy and offers minerality, greediness, precision, a fine airy side, a fine sappy hint in the frame (which brings pep / energy) as well as a pretty purity of the material. A melodious side and fullness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, luscious blackcurrant and slight notes of limestone (terroir) associated with touches of plum, licorice stick as well as hints of tonka bean, almond and 'with a subtle hint of sense of place and a very discreet fresh/iodized hint. The elegant, precise, racy, powerful and sapid tannins. Very good persistence.

Falstaff

Deep dark ruby garnet, opaque core, violet reflections, subtle lightening of the edges. Delicate nuances of precious wood, dark cherries, ripe plums, a hint of nougat. Firm, juicy, heart cherries, fine extract sweetness, fine acid structure, silky and elegant, sticks well, mineral aftertaste shows length, delicate nougat on the finish, a multifaceted food accompaniment with reliable aging potential.

James Suckling

Blackberry, iron, hazelnut, crushed stone, hints of salt and spice. Medium to full body. Fresh and vivid. Very sophisticated and classy. The tannins are silky and so fine, but then it opens up at the end of the palate.

The Drinks Business

St Emilion; 72% Merlot; 30% Cabernet Franc; 5% Petit Verdot; pH 3.6; 14.5% alcohol; tasted at l’Association des Grands Crus Classés de St Emilion at Dassault and again from the property; from the final assemblage). Brilliantly crystalline and with a highly expressive nose – this is fabulous. Black currant and bramble crushed and concentrated, but also with a subtle freshness from the redcurrant and blackcurrant leaf notes, some black cherry skin, damson and sloe, mulberries too. Engagingly floral, with a little lilac and peony. Graphite and a faint hint of cedar – almost imperceptible until you lock in on it. This has incredibly satinous tannins, super softly enrobing the generous plump crunchy fruit and an impressively dense but succulent and opulent mid palate. So juicy too. The wine we’ve been anticipating from Bellefont Belcier. A hint of fresh liquorice root on the finish and crushed aromatic peppercorns. The best ever from here and a sharp ascent. I simply love the cedar and violet notes on the finish. 95-97+.

Robert Parker

This estate's renaissance continues, and the 2022 Bellefont Belcier is both the finest and most elegant wine that the team has produced today. Mingling aromas of plums and sweet berries with notions of rose petals and bay leaf, it's medium to full-bodied, with a deep core of vibrant fruit, beautifully refined tannins and a suave, seamless profile. Readers will remember that this derives from a beautifully situated hillside vineyard, sandwiched between Larcis Ducasse and Tertre Roteboeuf on either side, with holdings belonging to Pavie and Troplong Mondot on the plateau above. The 2022 is a blend of 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Terre de Vins

Alexandre Ma

2022 marks the second year of Château Bellefont-Belcier's organic transformation, and remarkably, in such a hot and dry vintage, the wine is juicy and refreshingly crisp. The fragrances of peony, mulberry, red plum, and licorice linger around the nose, while the chalky essence inherent to limestone is vividly apparent. Each tasting allows me to experience the purest essence of elegance. Apart from the concentrated fruit aromas, the tannin structure is solid, yet intriguingly, once they touch the palate, they melt away, resonating with the Chinese saying "rich but not cloying".

Bettane et Desseauve

VV Wine

Tasted three times. Dense ruby. The nose is ripe fruity, expressive, lots of blackberries, ripe plums, cherries, herbs, including a mineral touch, floral notes above, very complex. Precise on the palate, powerful, with silky soft tannins, a well-packed acidity, the fruit appears ripe and harmonises with the structure. The finish is dominated by red and dark berries and leaves a clean, fresh mouthfeel. Razor-sharp mastered the balancing act between power and elegance. Excellent quality.

The Wine Independent

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2022 Bellefont-Belcier needs a swirl or two to unlock notes of redcurrant jelly, baked black plums, and Morello cherries with hints of Chinese five spice, potpourri, and tilled soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is laden with juicy black fruit with red berry sparks and ripe, rounded tannins, finishing with a refreshing lift.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Flowers, plums, espresso, mint leaf, spice, cedar and blackberries create the nose. On the palate, the wine is silky, elegant, refined, and packed with the essence of minerality adding complexity to its layers of cherries and plums. The fruits express purity and symmetry in the finish. The wine blends 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon.15% ABV, 3.45 pH. Harvesting took place September 7 - October 6. The wine is aging in 30% new French oak barrels, 30% in foudres and 40% in used oak barrels. Drink from 2027 - 2050.

Bettane & Desseauve

Jeb Dunnuck

The 2022 Château Bellefont-Belcier is a lively, medium to full-bodied Saint-Emilion that shines for its vibrancy and purity while still bringing beautiful depth of fruit. A blend of 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, it has a terrific sense of minerality in its red and blue fruits as well as notes of graphite, woodsmoke, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, this ripe, concentrated, yet incredible elegant 2022 stays nicely focused, has fine grained tannins, and outstanding length. Tasted multiple times with consistent notes. 93-95+