The 2003 Château Bellevue is fully mature, yet it's drinking beautifully with a lush, round, voluptuous style. Red and black cherries, truffly earth, leafy tobacco, and sweet spice all define the aromatics, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a rounded, layered, soft mouthfeel, resolved tannins, and outstanding length. It's not going to get better, but I'm happy to have a few more bottles in the cellar.

This 15+ acre estate situated on a south/southwest-facing slope has been making sensational wines since 2000 when the management of the vineyard and winemaking were taken over by Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt. The 40-year-old bio-dynamically farmed vineyard is planted with 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The 2003 possesses superb ripeness as well as a stony mineral liqueur-like intensity a reticent but promising perfume of black raspberries sweet kirsch and blacker fruits a full-bodied powerful concentrated attack and mid-palate and a blockbuster long powerful moderately tannic finish. It is an infant in terms of development. No doubt this site’s clay and limestone soils were the perfect antidote for the summer’s torrid heat and drought. This superb effort should only be purchased by patient connoisseurs. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2025+</P>

Plenty of berry and cherry character with chocolate and vanilla. Medium-bodied with soft and balanced tannins. Lovely balance. This is right next to Angélus and Beauséjour Duffau-Lagarosse. A small property with about 15 acres. Best after 2008. 1625 cases made. (JS)