2019 Chateau Bel-Air Cuvee Jean et Gabriel Lussac-Saint-Émilion

A few years back, our friend Benoit Touquette—the French-born, Bordeaux-bred winemaker and mastermind consultant who’s kept Realm, Screaming Eagle, Ovid, and Fait-Main at the top—poured us a glass of his favorite under-the-radar Bordeaux.

It was the Château Bel-Air Cuvée Jean et Gabriel Lussac Saint-Émilion, and we were stunned—not just by the high quality, but by the price tag. That’s why the tiny producer’s wines are commonly hoarded by locals and a handful of private retailers.

Crafted by superstar Stéphane Derenoncourt in the superb 2019 vintage—which “turned out brilliantly,” according to Wine Advocate—this is a Right Bank superstar, and our members agreed, giving the last vintage of it we offered a fantastic 4.2-star rating.

Château Bel-Air is a sprawling property with 52 acres of vines, all of them spreading out on a plateau of clay and silica gravel. It’s been in the Roi family for over 100 years, and their dedication to the land is immediately evident: Not only do they farm their vines meticulously, they also work to maintain a healthy vineyard ecosystem and are well on their way to achieving the highest level of HVE (High Environmental Value) certification.

Derenoncourt, who has consulted on the internationally clamored-for wines of Les Carmes Haut-Brion and Smith Haut Lafitte, crafted this wine from the top lots on the property, where vines averaging 45 years of age lend a stunning level of depth and concentration. The wine spent 18 months in 30% new French oak before going into bottle, adding intriguing flavors of baking spice and herbs while softening the tannins.

The result is a wine that’s amazing in the short term and also fit for cellaring. 

• Fruit Intensity
• Oak Intensity
• Body
• Acidity
• Tannin

• ABV 14.50%
• 30 mins
• Now – 2033
• 50% Cabernet Franc50% Merlot
• Serving temperature – 60°
• Cork