2017 Château Bellefont-Belcier

The 2017 Bellefont-Belcier is powerful, but also a bit rough around the edges. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, leather and savory herbs start to open with a bit of time in the glass, but the 2017 never really fully comes together. Perhaps time in bottle will help.

- Antonio Galloni (12/2020)

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. (01/2020)

One of my favorite estates in Saint-Emilion, the 2017 Chateau Bellefont-Belcier comes from a 13.5-hectare vineyard on the Cote Pavie (it’s right beside Larcis-Ducasse). Mostly Merlot blended with small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, it's a rocking wine in the vintage and has loads of red and black currant-driven fruit as well as notes of crushed rocks, white truffle, dried flowers, and a kiss of chocolate. With beautiful minerality, a rich, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, building tannins, and a great finish, it's an undeniable success in this vintage that should be snatched up by readers. Hide bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades. Tasted three times. (02/2020)

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.

- J.M.

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.

- Lisa Perrotti-Brown (03/2020)