Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (95)

Vivid ruby. Captivating aromas of blackcurrant, red cherry, sweet spices and minerals are complemented by a strikingly pure violet nuance. Enters the mouth lush and concentrated, offering sweet dark berry and coffee flavors lifted by notes of black pepper, graphite and Asian spices. Turns more austere on the back half but remains very pure, hinting at uncommon depth and complexity. This classic, elegantly styled BDL finishes long and crisp, with very polished tannins and floral and mineral echoes.

Wine Advocate (94+)

Another brilliant wine of great nobility and finesse, the 2011 Beausejour-Duffau reveals a saturated chalky minerality as well as plenty of blue and black fruits, and fabulous precision and purity. It possesses a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and a distinctive/singular style only possessed by the greatest wines. Give it 4-5 years of cellaring and drink it over the following two decades. It promises to be one of the longest lived wines of the vintage. At 14.7% alcohol, this is a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc.

James Suckling (100)

This is extraordinary. There has never been a wine like this here since the famous 1990 or underrated 1989. Violets, flowers, stones and limestone. Oyster-shell undertones. Full-bodied, muscular and so structured. A phenomenal wine that reminds me of the great Bordeaux of the 1950s. Try in 2026.

Jeb Dunnuck (100)

Cassis, crushed rocks, graphite, and liquid violet notes all emerge from the 2016 Château Beauséjour, one of the magical wines in this great, great vintage. Possessing full-bodied richness, building tannin, world-class purity of fruit, and an incredible finish, it’s one of those “iron fist in a velvet glove” wines that carries awesome richness and depth, yet just glides over the palate with no sensation of weight or heaviness. This legendary Saint-Emilion needs 6-7 years of cellaring and will keep for 3-4 decades. Don’t miss this wine!

Wine Advocate (97)

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Beausejour (Duffau Lagarrosse) prances out of the glass with energetic notes of crushed black and red plums, black cherries and black raspberries plus wafts of potpourri, oolong tea and lavender. The medium-bodied palate is oh-so-pretty with bags of fragrant fruit and a firm, plush frame, finishing long and perfumed.

Immerse yourself in the lavish experience that is the Bel Air 1983. This robust Bordeaux blend truly is a celebration of French viticulture at its finest. Cared for in the esteemed region of Pomerol, this wine is an exquisite product of the revered Château Belair winery. This vintner has been crafting wines redolent with charisma since the 17th century.

Bel Air 1983 offers an expressive nose of blackcurrant, plum, and leather, intermingled with subtle notes of vanilla and spice gained from maturation in oak barrels. This wine tells the story of its exceptional vintage - a year marked by a perfect balance of sun and rain, producing optimally ripe, high-quality grapes.

Sip by sip, Bel Air 1983 offers complexity, longevity, and a distinct sense of place, living testament to its rich terroir and masterful vinification. This wine is not simply tasted, it's a journey - an indulgence in heritage and meticulous craftsmanship.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (86)

Moderately saturated medium red. Redcurrant and tobacco on the nose. Vinous and fresh but on the lean side; where's the beef? Not especially long on the back, but not dry either.

James Suckling (91-92)

Very structured for here with chewy tannins and a blackberry and dark chocolate character. Full and velvety.

Vinous - Neal Martin (90)

The 2015 Belgrave has an attractive blackberry, raspberry and pressed iris bouquet that displays commendable intensity. The palate is quite grippy with slightly hard tannins but there is plenty of fruit with hints of autumn leaves and fennel toward the slightly bitter finish. Enjoy this over the next decade. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Wine Advocate (89-91)

.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (91)

The 2019 Belgrave is every bit as impressive from bottle as it was en primeur. Dark, bold and savory, the 2019 is fabulous from the very first taste. Wild black cherry, lavender, spice and dried herbs build in a Haut-Médoc that is positively stellar in every way. I loved it.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (88-90)

The 2020 Belgrave is a promising Haut-Médoc. Graphite, scorched earth, cloves, licorice and lavender create a deep, penetrating bouquet. There is good depth and energy here, even if the 2020 remains just a bit lean. All the Belgrave needs is a bit more midpalate juiciness. Tasted two times.

Jancis Robinson (16)

Deep crimson hue. Dark-fruit aromas. Ripe and finely framed, the tannins rounded. Cabernet notes to the fore. Clean and direct but perhaps not for the long haul.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (87)

(a blend of 50% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 20% petit verdot): Bright, medium red-ruby. Reduced aromas of black fruits, licorice, dark chocolate and tobacco leaf. Supple on entry, then a bit herbal and lean in the middle but with good freshness to the flavors of cassis, redcurrant and cedar. A juicy wine with modest flesh.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90)

Good deep red-ruby. Currant, smoke and roast coffee on the expressive nose. Suave and sweet, with a fine-grained texture and enticing inner-mouth perfume to the flavors of redcurrant and tobacco. Finishes with fine tannins and very good length.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)

Powerful, dense and explosive, with notable thrust to the red cherry, plum, leather and licorice flavors, the dramatic, full-throttle 2015 Bellefont-Belcier is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. Dark red cherry, mocha, new leather and spice build into the racy, voluptuous finish. The tannins need time to soften, but all the elements are in the right place. In a word: terrific.

James Suckling (96-97)

This well-defined and sophisticated wine shows a gorgeous center-palate of near perfectly ripe fruit. Lots of dark berries and minerals with some pine, while the texture is full and compact with layers of well-integrated, fine tannins. The finish is seamless. Just a hint of salt at the end of the pretty fruit. 72% merlot, 18% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon.

Unveiling the character of a masterfully crafted wine, the Bellegrave 2006 is a vintage of distinction and grandeur. Born in the prestigious vineyards of Pauillac, in the heart of Bordeaux, France, this blend is known for its expressive, profound profile. The astute wine producer, Château Bellegrave, has meticulously harvested the finest Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes to achieve an engaging balance of power, richness and finesse.

Enveloped in classy French oak over a 20-month period, Bellegrave 2006 embodies the quintessence of Bordeaux style wines, expressing an intriguing array of black fruits, developed earthy notes, and subtle hints of sweetness. The palate is rewarded with a luxurious, full-bodied texture, articulating fine tannins and lingering depth. One appreciates the admirable marriage between fruit concentration and complex spice nuances that embody the artistry and legacy of this prolong ageing offering.

Bellegrave 2006 is an eloquent testimony to exceptional French winemaking, etching an indelible mark on the landscape of Pauillac wines across the globe.

Vinous (92+)

Good full, bright red. Deep, chalky aromas of dark raspberry, tapenade and saline minerality. A pure expression of soil, showing terrific inner-mouth tension and minerality to the intense flavors of brooding dark raspberry, pepper and spices. This wonderfully vibrant, energetic wine finishes with firm but suave tannins and a repeating peppery accent. Classic 2013 in style, and built to repay aging.

Wine Advocate (92)

The 2014 Vosne-Romanée 1er Cru Les Suchots has a lovely, sumptuous, generous bouquet with raspberry coulis, strawberry and cranberry aromas that yell at you, Suchots! The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, dark berry fruit here that is tightly wound at the moment, but there is good depth and once it finds its groove, this should turn out to be one of Nicolas Potel's best wines from this appéllation.

Wine Advocate (94)

The first bottle of 2005 Bellevue that I tasted had a maderized, oxidized nose that was off-putting. This note is from a second bottle. This second bottle showed absolutely no trace of oxidation, but did offer plenty of crushed, chalky minerality, notes of plum, blueberry, black raspberry and cherry fruit, a dense purple color, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and fabulous structure, purity and length. It should drink well for at least another 20+ years.

Jeb Dunnuck (94-96)

I've always enjoyed this wine (I recently finished a case of the 2003, which needs to be drunk up), and the 2019 Château Bellevue showed beautifully. Dense purple-hued with lots of cassis, gravelly earth, violets, and spicy oak, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a soft, opulent mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's a beautiful wine in the making and well worth a case purchase.

Wine Advocate (94+)

Even in a vintage such as 2003 there are wines that are youthful, unevolved and still in need of bottle age. The 2003 Bellevue Mondotte is one of those wines. From a tiny (5 acres) estate owned by Gerard Perse, this blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits youthful aromas of blue and black fruits, chalk dust, lead pencil shavings and Christmas fruitcake. Full, ripe and moderately tannic, it requires another 3-5 years of bottle age and could turn out to be one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage, lasting another 25-30 years.

Wine Advocate (94)

Very little wine is produced (about 400 cases) from this tiny 5-acre vineyard, but it is always among the most concentrated and richest of Bordeaux. The inky/purple-colored 2007 offers sweet cassis fruit notes interwoven with notions of graphite, chalk dust, and toast. Full-bodied with terrific purity and intensity (14.5% alcohol), it should drink well for 20+ years.

Wine Advocate (95+)

An extraordinary effort in this vintage, this 2008 was made from lower yields than the 2010 (the 2008's equaled 20 hectoliters per hectare) and is a blend of 90% Merlot and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon that came in at 14% natural alcohol. Michel Rolland has been the consultant for all the Perse estates since their acquisition, and the 2008's fruit was harvested very late, October 20. The result is a backward, dense purple-colored wine revealing a crushed rock-like liqueur along with highly extracted, massive flavors of black currants, sweet cherries, licorice and toast. This full-bodied effort requires 5-6 years of bottle age and should last for 25-30 years.