A famed historic estate in Saint-Emilion, Chateau Bellefont-Belcier is located on a south-facing slope, neighboring Château Pavie, Château Larcis-Ducasse and Château Tertre Roteboeuf. Château Bellefont-Belcier originally was owned by a famous Bordeaux family: at the end of the 18th century, the Count Louis-François de Belcier had first founded the vineyard then, at the beginning of the 19th century, he build the Château which he named Bellefont (Belle Fontaine means ‘beautiful fountain’ and is a reference to the numerous springs hidden on the hillside into which the vines plunge their roots). Bellefont’s vineyard extends over 13.5 hectares in parcel which has three distinct areas: the limestone plateau, the South slope clay-limestone, the clayey-sandy parcels. The site is planted to 72% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc and 11% of Cabernet Sauvignon spread over 28 plots. The average age of the vines is about 35 years.
I loved the latest four set of releases from this estate. While I have enjoyed older bottles of this wine, particularly loving their 2000, there is clearly an increase in quality over the past several years since new proprietor Peter Kwok has taken the reins. The best wine I tasted was the glorious 2018 Chateau Bellefont-Belcier (OB, 93) which is dense and chewy, really needing a few more years in the cellar — but also showing some magnificent aging potential. Learn more about this historic chateau at http://www.vignoblesk.com/en/our-properties/chateau-bellefont-belcier.aspx and here are the latest releases by Chateau Bellefont-Belcier.
2016 Chateau Bellefont-Belcier- A fantastic blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is inky once in the glass, unveiling considerable more depth and concentration than the 2017. You admire its deep core of black currant cordial, mocha, tar and loamy soils that greet you, alongside a great veil of tension. Already nicely evolved, enjoy this beautiful wine over the next decade or more. Drink 2022-2035- 92
2017 Chateau Bellefont-Belcier- Very finesse-driven, the 2017 Bellefont-Belcier has good richness considering the challenges of the vintage. Aged in 40% new French oak for 20 months, this displays medium-bodied graphite and sandalwood tones alongside ripe blackberry and espresso bean tones on the palate. This is really enjoyable now and will continue to evolve over the next decade. Drink 2022-2032- 90
2018 Chateau Bellefont-Belcier- The 2018 Chateau Bellefont-Belcier is a gorgeous bottling from proprietor Peter Kwok, as this blends 70% Merlot with 25% Cabernet Franc and a touch of Cabernet Sauvignon. The rich cassis and black cherry notes from the Merlot really impress mid-palate, as stony and savory tones round out this beautiful wine that really needs another year or two in the bottle. The potential is really there with this concentrated Saint-Emilion — just try to forget it for a few more years. Drink 2024-2040- 93
2019 Chateau Bellefont-Belcier- The same blend as the 2018 Bellefont, this wine was aged in 40% new French oak for 20 months prior to bottling. It is quite backwards even after a long decant at this time, yet shows serious potential as pencil lead, tar, black licorice and violets all parade on the palate alongside copious stony minerals. Medium to full-bodied, with gobs of finesse, enjoy this beautiful wine a few years from now. Drink 2024-2035- 92