Chateau Belair-Monange Saint Emilion Grand Cru 2017 1.5Ltr

Made of 98% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2017 Belair Monange is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. With a little swirling, this baby comes bounding out of the glass with energetic notes of wild blueberries, Morello cherries, baked plums and black raspberries with wafts of Indian spices, lavender, garrigue and tobacco plus a hint of licorice. Medium to full-bodied, the black and blue fruit dance playfully on the palate with fantastic freshness to lift the bold flavors and a superb frame of ripe, velvety tannins. It finishes very long and with amazing zing. So tempting to drink now, but make no mistake—this is one for the long haul!

• Country: France
• Region: Bordeaux
• Appellation: Saint Emilion
• Size: 1.5Ltr
• Color: Red

Varietal

Red Bordeaux

There are few regions in the world with stricter regulations in regards to wine production and grape varietals than those found in Bordeaux, France. Here, in the home of the world’s finest wines, the type and quality of grapes used is of utmost importance, and the legendary wineries which work on the banks of the Gironde river have mastered the careful art of juice blending to find the perfect balance for their produce. Whilst there are six ‘official’ Bordeaux grapes, the two key varietals for almost every fine Bordeaux wine are Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, and with good reason. Whilst Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are renowned for their acidity and astringency, strong fruit and spice flavors and full body, Merlot grapes are notably rounded, soft, fleshy and lighter on tannin. The combination of these two varietals, along with a small percentage of (commonly) Petit Verdot or Cabernet Franc, is the perfect balancing act ”“ the two grape varietals cancel out each others weaker points, and accentuate all that is good about the other.