Château Bellefont-Belcier 2016

A fine yet robust red wine from Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

Château Bellefont-Belcier is a Grand Cru Classé from the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. With a total area of 13.5 hectares, the vineyard is planted on a limestone plateau, with a south-facing hillside of clay and limestone soils. The wine is aged in barrels, with 80% new barrels and 20% barrels used for one previous wine, for a period of 16 to 20 months, depending on the vintage. Château Bellefont-Belcier 2016 consists of a blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon.

After an appearance by an anticyclone in mid-June, summer began, marked by heat and drought, leading to a water deficiency. The limestone and clay-limestone soils of Saint-Émilion respond perfectly to these extreme conditions and allow for an optimal maturation of the berries. The grape harvest took place peacefully from the 11^th to the 22^nd of October.

At tasting, the château Bellefont-Belcier 2016 displays a beautiful colour. The wine reveals very intense aromas on the nose, a delicious character that later develops on the palate a simultaneous finesse and power. All this is built onto a tannic structure that is both subtle and gently tactile. Certainly a wine with great keeping potential!

Wine Advocate-Parker :
The 2016 Bellefont Belcier is a blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon matured in 80% new oak. It has a satisfying if not sensational bouquet that does not quite get to grips with its propitious terroir as I was hoping. This came across as a little muted perhaps. The palate is sweet and velvety on the entry with a fine bead of acidity. It gathers pace, gaining more intensity towards its spice-tinged finish with a hint of graphite courtesy of the Cabernet Sauvignon, although I was seeking a little more length on the aftertaste. There is certainly good aging potential here, and I suspect that it will come together nicely once in bottle.