2009 Chateau Belair-Monange Moueix Saint Emilion Grand Cru Classé

About the Winery

Ets Moueix is the same family that produces world famous Chateau Petrus, Trotanoy, and Latour a Pomerol. Belair-Monange (my angel) is the home of Edouard Moueix. It is no surprise that this property has seen renewed interest and growth over the last few years. Situated at the highest point of Saint-Émilion’s famed limestone plateau, it has long been considered one of the region’s very best crus.  From the outstanding 98pt vintage, the wine is aged in concrete tanks and is a blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Vines are on average, 40 years old. 

Young vintages can be decanted for 1-2 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might also need decanting, for both aerating and to remove the sediment. Chateau Belair Monange is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes.

Reviews

This extraordinary terroir now exploited by Edouard Moueix the son of Christian seems to be coming to life in a dramatic fashion. Never a hedonistic wine but very intellectual the 2009 suggests a liqueur of crushed rocks intermixed with black currants and black cherries. Still somewhat closed medium to full-bodied and impressive rather than seductive this is a structured wine that needs to be forgotten for at least a decade and then drunk over the following 30+ years. If readers are looking for the quintessential example of a terroir-dominated wine this is Lesson 101 in terroir. 94+ WA

Love the soft and velvety tannin with the milk chocolate and fruit character. Full and silky. Long and delicious. So fine. Best wine from this estate in decades. Maybe ever. Best after 2017. 94JS

A core of sweetness shows through this wine. It has juicy acidity shining prominently-it shows its fresh side immediately. Bélair-Monange is still a work in progress although this will always be a delicious wine. 94WE