France

Ch. Bellevue

Chateau Bellevue Grand Cru Classe Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Bordeaux

Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

Joint ownership between Pradel de Lavaux and de Boüard de Laforest families, located on the plateau just above Angélus, with clay-limestone cool soils that are planted to 100% Merlot. This is beautifully deep in colour, and the tension and mouth-watering slate minerality that was evident during En Primeur is still here. Creamy blackberry fruits are brushed with smoked caramel, delivered with purity and poise, this is exceptionally good quality, and so different in character from its sister estate Angélus. Second to last vintage for longtime winemaker Emmanuelle Fulchi, showcasing her skills here.

Inside Bordeaux

Gorgeous chalky tannins, red cherry and cherry pit, raspberry and blueberry fruits, always a naturally steely and saline finish to Bellevue, reflecting its limestone-dominant soils, gentle spice notes, and a kiss of oak. This is a physical wine, with a sensation of pumice and slate, and a sappy and sinewy finish that reflects the 10% whole bunch ferment. Frederic Massie of Derenoncourt Consultants, 35hl/h yield, harvest was October 3 to 6. 3ha estate, Sophie and Axel Pradel de Laxaux family sole owners since 2022, after a decade or more in partnership with the de Boüard family of Angélus. 

A late-ripening estate that can be austere when young even in the biggest vintages, and here you will definitely feel the emphasis on sculpted raspberry fruits, with limestone acidity. Juicy and elegant, it opens up when you give it time, and will soften up over ageing. Lemongrass and gunsmoke minerality, this is bright and focused.

Good stuff, a lovely wine with powerful but supple tannic architecture. As is so often the case with Bellevue, it reveals a side of delicate, floral almost austere side of Merlot that is atypical to the grape but a perfect reflection of the cool 6.82ha clay-limestone slopes - think blueberries and slate, unshowy but with staying power. Owned by de Bouard family and the de Lavau family. Benjamin de Laforest winemaker. Interestingly, the family chose to keep this wine within the St Emilion ranking, so it remains Grand Cru Classé, unlike sibling estate Château Angélus. 33hl/ha yield.

The 2018 Bellevue is deep garnet-purple in color. It delivers notes of cedar and sauteed herbs, over a core of baked plums and boysenberry preserves, plus a waft of cinnamon toast. Full-bodied, the palate is firm and lively, with a grainy texture and a bright, pure finish. 

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Sweet tobacco, campfire smoke, damson, strawberry puree and tobacco, this captures the beauty of 2005 at this moment in time, and the mouthwateringly fine tannins of this cool clay-limestone terroir as it ages. One to savour and share, tons of nuance and character, with understated power that grows through the palate to a mouthwatering finish. Owned by the de Lavaud family at the time, two years before the de Boüard's of Angélus took a 50% stake.

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Ch. Bellevue
Vintages	2019
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Bottle	75 cl

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