The 2019 Belair-Monange St. Emilion is a Bordeaux Blend hailing from the prestigious Bordeaux region in France. This red wine, produced by Belair-Monange, has garnered significant acclaim from wine reviewers, earning near-perfect scores across the board.
James Suckling of JamesSuckling.com awarded the wine a remarkable 99 points, praising its "wonderful aromas of fresh flowers, blackberries and cherries," along with hints of licorice and lilacs. He describes the wine as "full-bodied, yet so tight and refined, translucent and weightless," highlighting its "incredible purity and excellence." Suckling concludes that this wine represents "the heart and soul of the property in a glass," and recommends drinking it after 2028.
Similarly, Decanter also rated the wine 99 points, calling it "one of the standouts in 2019." The review notes "red fruit aromatics" like strawberries and sweet red cherries, coupled with "bramble floral notes." The wine is described as having a "gorgeous expression on the palate," with "smooth and supple" tannins and a "grace - slender and smooth." Decanter praises the wine's "crystalline fruit purity" and "persistent" flavors, suggesting a drinking window from 2030 to 2050.
Jeb Dunnuck's review on jebdunnuck.com gave the wine 98 points, emphasizing its "depth and richness" and likening it to a Pomerol in a blind tasting. He notes "deep red and black fruits, truffly earth, tobacco, and spring flower notes" on the nose. Dunnuck calls it "a magical wine" with a "layered, seamless mouthfeel" and "gorgeous tannins." He recommends allowing the wine to age for 7-8 years and suggests it will evolve for 30 years or more.
Vinous' Neal Martin awarded the wine 97 points, appreciating its "wonderful delineation and focus" with a "cornucopia of red fruit, crushed stone, wilted rose petal and light black truffle aromas." Martin notes the wine's "sappy red berry fruit" and "velvety texture," concluding with a "lavish finish" featuring dark chocolate and cocoa notes.
Other notable reviews include Wine Enthusiast’s Roger Voss, who gave it 96 points and described it as a "structured, elegant wine at the top of its form." He highlighted its "ripe blackberry fruits" and "rich texture," suggesting it will be ready from 2027.
Overall, the 2019 Belair-Monange St. Emilion is highly regarded for its complexity, elegance, and aging potential, making it a standout in the 2019 vintage.