Château Bellefont-Belcier 2017

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Bellefont Belcier wears its cedary oak at the forefront at this stage, giving way to scents of baked blackberries, black cherries and mulberries plus wafts of Christmas cake and tobacco. Medium-bodied, the palate is firmly textured with grainy tannins and has a great core of muscular fruit, finishing with a lovely herbal lift. A blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine was aged for 20 months in French oak, 40% new.

Juicy and fresh, with lively plum, blackberry and black cherry compote flavors taking the lead, while anise, apple wood and bramble accents fill in through the finish. Shows good energy throughout. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2035. 2,917 cases made.

Ripe fruit aromas show more harmony than the 2015 and, for once, some genuine salinity on the palate. A pleasure to drink on its own, or try with lentil curry or seared duck. A key difference is that this vintage was aged 14 months (not 20 months) in 40% new barrels instead of 80%.

Dark fruit with chocolate and a hint of coffee on the nose. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a juicy finish. The toasted oak is a little predominant now, but this is going to come together beautifully. Excellent length. A blend of 70% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. Try after 2022.

Very dark with a black core. Scented pure black fruit. Rather severe and intense on the palate, like essence of blackcurrant. Smooth texture and fresh but just a little bitter on the finish. (JH)

The 2017 Bellefont-Belcier matured for 20 months in 40% new oak. It has a well-defined bouquet with perfumed blackberry, boysenberry and crushed violet aromas, one of the purest I have encountered in recent vintages. The palate builds on the promise it showed from barrel, fleshy with gentle grip, lightly spiced with a touch of black pepper toward the finish. There is good potential here, although I would give it five or six years in bottle.

The first vintage for new owner Peter Kwok is deep in color. The medium to full-bodied wine, fresh and vibrant, filled with black cherry, licorice and chocolate, offers soft textures, freshness and minerality on the finish. The wine was made from a blend of 75% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Deep dark ruby, with purple reflections and a delicate bright rim. An inviting aroma of dark berry fruit, hints of fig and candied orange zest, and a pleasant herbal savouriness. Juicy, cherry, subtly sweet fruit, with integrated tannins, fine nougat, and some minerality. Long on the finish; an elegant food wine for early drinking.

Deep purple-garnet with a black core and violet rim. Concentrated black-berry nose, backed by licorice and dark fine wood. On the full palate, a powdery extract and a tight tannic corset. The focused finish shows sloe juice, dark fine wood, and dried plum skin. You can sense the new owner’s signature here — unfortunately, they simply wanted too much. Potential rating!

Kunz barrel sample 18: fruity, sweet, mineral bouquet, cherries, blackberries, caramel. Velvety, fruity palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, subtly opulent structure, powerful aromatics, and a fresh, slightly bitter finish.

Fruity, sweet, mineral bouquet with cherries, blackberries, caramel. Velvety, fruity palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, delicately opulent structure, powerful aromatics, fresh, slightly bitter finish. 17/20 2023 - 2034

The first vintage from the new team marks a break, with more in-depth plot selection and gentler winemaking, resulting in a dense, energetic wine with fine tannic vigor and a classy, chalky drive.

The built richness of the 2017, silky and deliberately savoury despite the power and tannic concentration shaped by careful ageing, gives meaning to this vintage, barely spiced with a hint of cabernet-sauvignon.

Fruity, spicy bouquet with good intensity. Notes of cherries and licorice wood. Balanced, refined palate with well-integrated tannins and a refreshing finish.

The nose is elegant, finely bred and offers power. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, wild blackcurrant and, more lightly, wild strawberry, combined with very fine toasted hints, camphor, a very discreet touch of vanilla and orange, as well as a subtle hint of pepper and cornflower/iris. The palate is fruity, very discreetly tight, and offers a zesty backbone, indulgence, smoothness and freshness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of violet, fleshy wild strawberry and, more lightly, raspberry, combined with a subtle touch of fleshy/juicy blackcurrant as well as very discreet hints of chocolate. The tannins are well managed. Good length. Hints of chocolate and toasted almond on the finish/persistence.

Dark color, with good intensity and beautiful. Lively. Moderately aromatic nose, with ripe, pure fruit. Delicate on the attack, immediately perfumed afterwards, melting and flavorful, meticulous in its feel, the wine stretches out on the finish, pleasant and long. A very lovely whole. Here, the vintage brings a softer tannic structure. Vineyard not affected by frost.

89–91. Barrel Sample. Ripe red fruits give this wine a luscious character balanced by firm tannins. The dry core is firmly dominant at this stage although there is plenty of fruit for the future. Drink from 2024.