The 2014 Belair-Monange St. Emilion is a Bordeaux Blend from the renowned Bordeaux region of France, specifically the sub-region of Saint Emilion. This red wine, produced by Belair-Monange, is sealed with a cork and boasts an alcohol content of 14.0%.
The 2014 vintage has received high praise from various professional reviewers, highlighting its excellent quality and promising future. Wine Enthusiast awarded it an impressive 96 points, noting the wine's "powerful tannins" and its blend of Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The review suggests that the wine "shows signs of the wood aging" which will evolve, leaving a "richly endowed wine with a fine future." The optimal drinking window is from 2026.
James Suckling also gave the wine a stellar 96 points, describing it as "extremely perfumed with rose aromas that turn to strawberries and citrus." He praised its "full-bodied, yet reserved and ultra-refined" nature and recommended trying it in 2022, although he acknowledged it is already a joy to taste.
Wine Spectator awarded it 95 points, commending its "gorgeous purity" and the presence of "cassis, loganberry and raspberry fruit." The review highlights the wine's weight and grip, with a "chalky thread" that extends through the finish, ending with "lovely bergamot and rooibos tea notes."
Jeb Dunnuck also scored it 95 points, noting it as a "brilliant wine" that marries "elegance and finesse with richness and terrific length." He highlighted its complex bouquet of "black cherry and currant-like fruits" with a touch of "Asian spice, acacia flowers, cedary spice, and dried earth-like minerality."
Other reviewers provided slightly lower but still commendable scores. Vinous gave it 91 points, describing the nose as having a "Left Bank style" with "cedar and pencil shavings scents." The palate is "medium-bodied with a silky texture," though not overly complex, it has "real finesse and class towards the finish."
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate rated it 92 points, praising its "silky smooth texture" and "genuine depth," despite a bouquet that lacks some intensity. Decanter and The Wine Independent rated it 95 and 94 points, respectively, with Decanter noting its "great persistency, richness and texture," and The Wine Independent highlighting its "rich black fruits supported by grainy tannins."
Overall, the 2014 Belair-Monange St. Emilion is a highly regarded Bordeaux Blend with excellent aging potential and a blend of complex flavors and aromas that have captivated wine reviewers.