Updated: Apr 16
You're likely already a fan of Château Lascombes, but if you're open to exploring new vintages such as the 2017 and 2018, here are some captivating details you should keep in mind.
The 2017 and 2018 vintages embody a modern winemaking style characterized by impeccably balanced and silky tannins, complemented by delightful fruity notes of cassis, wild strawberry, and blackberry.
The 2018 vintage is particularly noteworthy, having garnered an impressive score of GG97 and RP94 compared to GG95, RP94, and JS94, which were awarded to the 2017 vintage. The 2018 vintage boasts an alcohol content of 14% and delivers a truly unique tasting experience, featuring clean wood spice, sweet vanilla, and toasty hints of cigar box and mint. Conversely, the 2017 vintage, with a slightly lower alcohol content of 13%, entices an aromatic and floral character, displaying exquisite aromas of creme de cassis, spring flowers, and subtle barbecue smoke. It's almost impeccable to savour on its own.
Furthermore, the 2018 vintage offers a slightly denser and more refined structure, culminating in a longer, more satisfying finish. A recent dinner/tasting with friends convinced us that the 2018 vintage reigns were slightly superior, owing to its purity, structure, and length, making it a more versatile option for food pairings. Both vintages are undeniably delightful now, yet they hold the potential to evolve further with age, promising an even more profound and complex flavour profile in the years to come.
Heroes think alike. Specific tasting commentaries from a host of international tasters also highlight the vintages' modern elements, featuring balanced, silky tannins and fruity flavours such as cassis, wild strawberry, and blackberry. They are composed of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot. The 2018 vintage received a score of GG97, while the 2017 vintage got GG95, indicating its exceptional quality and potential. The 2018 vintage has an alcohol content of 14% and offers a unique tasting experience with clean wood spice, sweet vanilla, and toasty hints of cigar box and mint. On the other hand, the 2017 vintage has a slightly lower alcohol content at 13%. It offers the charm of an even more aromatic and floral experience, with beautiful aromas of creme de cassis, spring flowers, and subtle barbecue smoke.
The Chateau Belair 2007 St Emilion Grand Cru Classe is a wine with a distinct character. It has a deep, ruby colour with a medium rim. Initially, it had a subtle aroma of red fruit, but after about an hour, it revealed a captivating blend of dark berries, black cherries, dry violets, and mint aromas. Surprisingly, these fruity and floral notes harmonized well with complex tones of salt, lead pencil, truffle, spice, and mushrooms. The palate reflects the nose, showing tannins and a slightly lifted acidity in the finish, likely due to the cooler and rainy 2007 vintage. It has a reasonably good fruit length on the palate, typical of a St Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classe. The bouquet took some time to develop fully in the decanter. It is rated DD91.
In the Dubois-Challon, where this 2007 Chateau Belair bottle came from, with in-to-neck level, is a testament to its exceptional quality and longevity. This wine has aged gracefully, maintaining its unique characteristics and offering an excellent wine experience. The limestone from the central plateau parcels contributes to this 2007 Belair's freshness, minerality, and delicate, lingering aromatics. Simultaneously, the dense, blue clay of the slopes provides intensity, length, and a unique elegance to the wine. The composition is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, contributing to its remarkable nose and taste profile.
There is a scarcity of information about this wine, making it a true hidden gem. I recall stumbling upon a passage in an old-fashioned book on Bordeaux Chateaux by Robert Parker that this Belair is crafted in the traditional old style. The fruit from Belair of his period is always shy in red fruit. Still, the palate profile, mainly tertiary, constantly forms from a unique blend of dry tobacco, leather, tar, tea, mushroom, and minerality, a style reminiscent of a wine from a dirty, damp cellar.
Tracing its origins back to ancient Roman times, the vineyard of Château Bélair is not just a wine producer but a living testament to history. Isymbolizeses endurance and excellence, situated at the highest point of Saint-Émilion's famed limestone plateau. In 1952, Belair's acquisition of the contiguous cru, Château Magdelaine, renowned for the remarkable elegance of its wines, eventually formed Château Bélair-Monange. Château Bélair-Monange expresses the unique style of the most outstanding parcels of these two complementary terroirs, carrying forward a legacy that spans centuries.
Of course, this Belair 2007 will be entirely different in style from the later Belair Monange started by JP Meuix. Belair's distinctive, almost historical profile sets this wine apart and makes it a must-try for any wine enthusiast. Our perspective differs from many others, such as Robert Parke, as we appreciate this wine's unique characteristics and the story it tells through its taste and aroma.
Updated: Aug 26, 2024
This wine blends 70% merlot, 24% cabernet franc, and 6% cabernet sauvignon. It has a medium red-ruby colour and offers red and black cherries, liquorice, camphor, violet, and espresso aromas. On the palate, it is sweet and juicy with a good amount of vinosity and grip. The flavours of cherries, bitter chocolate, and espresso are well supported by most new oak. The wine has a firm and brisk style with enough lurking fat to support the tannins, which have been significantly tamed. The nose is more open than the palate and seems to open up a better palate.
This wine has received high scores from renowned critics and publications, reflecting its exceptional quality, balance, complexity, and potential for ageing. This makes it a highly regarded choice for collectors and connoisseurs.
Robert Parker gave it a score of 88, noting that there was a lot of oak and perhaps too much extraction. Nevertheless, he found the wine generous, structured, and with lots of depth. The 2007 vintage gives a mixed message of whether it will pull itself together or become ragged and disjointed. Time will tell.
Gilbert & Gaillard rated it 94, highlighting its velvet character, smooth and round texture, and potential for further development over the next 7 to 8 years due to its tannins and acidity.
Wine Enthusiast scored 93, noting its deep colour, dense nose, ripe fruit, a touch of chocolate, and floral undertones. The clean, full-bodied palate develops solid tannins, making it a unique and quite racy wine.
