Chateau Bellevue 2020
- Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb -
Suckling
James
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
Decanter
A rich slick stripe of damson and smoked oak, but things close down pretty quickly on the palate. There are fine but tight tannins here, with a sweep of acidity traveling fast and swift through the palate, until the whole thing expands and softens after a minute in the glass. Great delicacy, power and depth, you would almost think there is Cabernet Franc in here because of its verticality, and beautifully rough slate texture on the finish. I love it. A yield of 33hl/ha.
Barrel Sample: 94 -
Jeb Dunnuck
I loved the 2020 Château Bellevue, and this might be the finest vintage I’ve tasted from this address. Lots of cassis and blue fruits as well as toasted spice, chocolate, and chalky minerality emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a great texture, ripe tannins, and a nice mix of freshness and richness.
Barrel Sample: (92-94)+ -
James Suckling
A full-bodied, firm and intense red with blackcurrants, toasted walnuts, violets, smoked paprika and dried herbs on the nose. Sturdy frame from firm yet polished tannins. Powerful and wonderfully integrated.
Other Vintages
2022-
Dunnuck
Jeb - Decanter
- Decanter
-
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Dunnuck
Jeb
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert - Decanter
-
Spectator
Wine -
Enthusiast
Wine
-
Suckling
James -
Parker
Robert -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine - Decanter
-
Suckling
James -
Enthusiast
Wine -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert -
Spectator
Wine
-
Parker
Robert
It is the de Lavaux family who hold the other half of the property. Together, the two families will carry on the work started in 2000 by Nicolas Thienpont and Stéphane Derenoncourt. The promotion of the property will be reinforced by the dynamism of Chateau Angelus.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Marked by its historic fortified village—perhaps the prettiest in all of Bordeaux, the St-Émilion appellation, along with its neighboring village of Pomerol, are leaders in quality on the Right Bank of Bordeaux. These Merlot-dominant red wines (complemented by various amounts of Cabernet Franc and/or Cabernet Sauvignon) remain some of the most admired and collected wines of the world.
St-Émilion has the longest history in wine production in Bordeaux—longer than the Left Bank—dating back to an 8th century monk named Saint Émilion who became a hermit in one of the many limestone caves scattered throughout the area.
Today St-Émilion is made up of hundreds of independent farmers dedicated to the same thing: growing Merlot and Cabernet Franc (and tiny amounts of Cabernet Sauvignon). While always roughly the same blend, the wines of St-Émilion vary considerably depending on the soil upon which they are grown—and the soils do vary considerably throughout the region.
The chateaux with the highest classification (Premier Grand Cru Classés) are on gravel-rich soils or steep, clay-limestone hillsides. There are only four given the highest rank, called Premier Grand Cru Classés A (Chateau Cheval Blanc, Ausone, Angélus, Pavie) and 14 are Premier Grand Cru Classés B. Much of the rest of the vineyards in the appellation are on flatter land where the soils are a mix of gravel, sand and alluvial matter.
Great wines from St-Émilion will be deep in color, and might have characteristics of blackberry liqueur, black raspberry, licorice, chocolate, grilled meat, earth or truffles. They will be bold, layered and lush.