Bélair-Monange St-Emilion Grand Cru 2009

96 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The sophomore 2009 Belair-Monange has been variable from bottle to bottle so I was taken aback at the impressive performance here. It has a very opulent bouquet with plush red fruit, patisserie, candied orange peel, fig and dates. This is very open and expressive, very gourmand in style and though atypical, it is very seductive. The palate is almost viscous on the entry with plush red fruit, a touch of black pepper and oregano, slightly medicinal in style but very persistent. Blind, I thought it might be Tertre-Rôteboeuf but it turned out not to be. Still, this is just a superb showing. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners’ 2009 Bordeaux tasting. Drink: 2020-2045. (Mar 2019)"

94-96+ points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "It is hard to believe that Christian Moueix and his family firm only took full control of Château Bélair in 2008, given the monumental quality of the 2009. The estate had been in need of some serious investment in both the vineyards and the cellars for decades, and the Moueix firm is committed to do everything necessary to take one of the greatest terroirs on the Côte of St. Émilion and bring it back to prominence. As Christian Moueix related, the vineyards at Bélair are all very old vines, but they are not in great shape and it will be necessary to do some replanting to augment the old vines over the coming years. However, in 2009 there were only old vines to work with, and the Moueix family has certainly brought out all their magic in this vintage. The yields ended up being ridiculously low in ’09 at Bélair-Monange, as the old vines produced less than fourteen hectoliters per hectare in this vintage. The resulting wine is unequivocally brilliant, as it soars from the glass in a classic, traditional mélange of red and black cherries, raw cocoa, tobacco leaf, very complex soil tones and a discreet touch of nutty oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and even a tad more soil-driven than Magdelaine this year, with suave tannins, fine acids, impeccable focus and balance and a beautifully long, complex and utterly sophisticated finish. A great wine. 2022-2075. (Mar/Apr 2010)"

95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Only the second vintage from this cuvee, the 2009 Chateau Belair-Monange comes from a beautiful terroir purchased by the Moueix family in 2008. The 2009 is still a baby, yet packed with potential. Black cherries, tobacco leaf, beautiful minerality and a floral character all emerge from this ripe, full-bodied, opulent wine that expands on the palate, has no hard edges, and a terrific purity of fruit. With sweet tannin and a stack mid-palate, it’s going to drink brilliantly for another three decades. Drink: 2017-2047. (12/12/17)"

94+ points Robert Parker: "This extraordinary terroir, now exploited by Edouard Moueix, the son of Christian, seems to be coming to life in a dramatic fashion. Never a hedonistic wine, but very intellectual, the 2009 suggests a liqueur of crushed rocks intermixed with black currants and black cherries. Still somewhat closed, medium to full-bodied, and impressive rather than seductive, this is a structured wine that needs to be forgotten for at least a decade, and then drunk over the following 30+ years. If readers are looking for the quintessential example of a terroir-dominated wine, this is Lesson 101 in terroir. Drink: 2022-2052. (Dec 2011)"

94 points Wine Enthusiast: "A core of sweetness shows through this wine. It has juicy acidity shining prominently—it shows its fresh side immediately. Bélair-Monange is still a work in progress, although this will always be a delicious wine. (Feb 2012)"

94 points James Suckling: "Love the soft and velvety tannin with the milk chocolate and fruit character. Full and silky. Long and delicious. So fine. Best wine from this estate in decades. Maybe ever. Best after 2017. (3/2/12)"

94 points La Revue du Vin de France: "The 2009 does not impress by its raw power, but by the quality and the silkiness of its material of great elegance. The tannins are finely wrapped and very graceful. We are delighted to the maximum degree. (2011)"