The 2016 Belair-Monange St. Emilion is a Bordeaux blend from the prestigious Saint Emilion sub-region in Bordeaux, France. Produced by Belair-Monange, this red wine is composed of 92% Merlot and 8% Cabernet Franc, and comes with an alcohol content of 14.5%. The wine is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
This particular vintage has garnered significant praise from multiple esteemed reviewers. Lisa Perrotti-Brown from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded it a score of 97+ and described it as a "total rock star" with a medium to deep garnet-purple color. She highlighted its gregarious aromas of red cherries, blackberries, and warm plums, complemented by hints of lavender, rose hip tea, powdered cinnamon, cigar box, and camphor. Perrotti-Brown praised its medium-bodied palate, vibrant red and black fruit layers, and firm backbone of grainy tannins, describing the finish as long and perfumed.
James Suckling gave the wine an impressive 99 points, calling it "the height of elegance" with "incredibly perfumed aromas of roses and violets, as well as blue fruit and lavender." Suckling emphasized its full-bodied and powerful nature paired with finesse and vibrance, recommending it be enjoyed after 2025.
Wine Spectator, which rated the wine at 95 points, noted its dark fruit profile, featuring plum, fig, and black currant. The review highlighted sleek and racy definition with a swath of tobacco and alluring toast, suggesting the wine's chalky minerality will emerge fully with extended cellaring. The publication recommends drinking it between 2022 and 2038.
Wine Enthusiast scored the wine at 96 points, commenting on its style, concentration, and glorious black fruits. The review noted that the 57-acre estate has shown significant improvement after considerable replantation, predicting the wine will develop into a rich offering by 2025.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com also rated it 96 points, praising its full-bodied, concentrated, and silky nature with beautiful purity. He highlighted its fresh, energetic, and fruity profile with soft, polished tannins, and a combination of smoke, licorice, wet earth, cigar wrapper, and spice.
Finally, Jeb Dunnuck awarded the wine 96+ points, describing it as a deep, saturated purple-hued effort with ripe black fruits, toasty oak, espresso bean, and spring flower-scented aromas and flavors. He noted its full-bodied richness, solid acidity, and terrific purity, recommending a 4-5 year bottle age and predicting it will keep for two decades.
Overall, the 2016 Belair-Monange St. Emilion Bordeaux blend is a highly acclaimed wine with excellent aging potential, offering a complex and elegant drinking experience.