The 2015 Bellevue [Bordeaux Blend] from Saint Emilion, Bordeaux, France, is a noteworthy 100% Merlot wine. This red wine, under the Bellevue label, boasts an impressive 15.0% alcohol content and is sealed with a traditional cork. The wine has garnered significant attention from professional reviewers, receiving high scores across the board.
Jeff Leve of TheWineCellarInsider.com awarded the wine a score of 93, describing it as "the essence of a mineral-driven wine, with salty tannins, fresh, dark plums, juicy black cherry, anise, and chocolate." He highlighted the wine's "silky, crisp, and fresh" qualities, emphasizing its 100% Merlot composition.
Wine Spectator also rated the wine 93 points, noting its "blackberry, raspberry, and boysenberry fruit" that is "stitched together by a refined chalky structure." The publication praised the wine's "long, focused finish" and "understated energy," suggesting it will be best enjoyed from 2023 through 2035.
James Suckling gave the 2015 Bellevue an exceptional score of 97, calling it "impressive" with "dark plums and mulberries" and "nicely intertwined spices and violets." He commented on the "suave, flowing tannins" and the "seamlessly long, showy finish," recommending it be tried from 2022.
Wine Enthusiast rated the wine 94 points, appreciating its "firm but well-integrated" tannins and "crisp Merlot fruit." The review highlighted the wine's "depth and complexity," predicting it will age well and suggesting it be consumed from 2026.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through Lisa Perrotti-Brown, awarded the wine a 94+ score. The review described the wine's "deep garnet-purple color" and "earthy/savory nose" with hints of "plum preserves, black forest cake, and licorice." The publication noted its "firm, rounded tannins" and "vibrant fruit expression," finishing on a "minerally note."
Decanter gave the wine a near-perfect score of 96, describing it as a "profound example of Bellevue." The review noted its "rich and spicy plummy fruits" and "layered tannins," predicting it will age exceptionally well. The wine's "grippy acidity" and "graphite-led mid-palate" were also highlighted.
Lastly, The Wine Independent rated it 94 points, describing the wine's "pretty notions of kirsch, baked black cherries, and redcurrant jelly" with "dried lavender, espresso, and licorice." The review praised its "big, concentrated, and full-bodied" palate and "long, pepper-laced finish."
The 2015 Bellevue [Bordeaux Blend] is a well-crafted wine with high praise for its complexity, aging potential, and rich flavor profile, making it a standout choice for Bordeaux enthusiasts.