Region
France > Bordeaux > Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Producer
Chateau Bellevue
Grape
Merlot
Appellation
Saint-Emilion
Classification
Grand Cru Classe
WO score
WO score is the average of all critic scores for this wine
Tasting notes
The first bottle of 2005 Bellevue that I tasted had a maderized, oxidized nose that was off-putting. This note is from a second bottle. This second bottle showed absolutely no trace of oxidation, but did offer plenty of crushed, chalky minerality, notes of plum, blueberry, black raspberry and cherry fruit, a dense purple color, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and fabulous structure, purity and length. It should drink well for at least another 20+ years.
This dense ruby/purple 2005 is tannic and hard, with a somewhat angular, austere personality. It offers ripe fruit, but the tannins still dominate, which is very surprising for a wine from the southern Medoc at age 10. Judgment reserved.
Tasted single blind at Southwold. Rather over-extracted on the nose. Black plum, mulberry and blueberry but lacking some clarity and precision. Sweet entry on the palate, but slightly over-extracted and the supple palate, black cherry and damson. A little monotonous on the finish, but not a bad wine. Drink now-2017. Tasted January 2009.
One of the few Bordeaux wines to include Carmenere in the blend, Belle-Vue's final blend in 2005 is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, and 3% Carmenere. It reveals more tannin than most of the “big little wines†in this report, along with great fruit, medium body, and plenty of character. Give it another six months of bottle age, and enjoy it over the following 7-8.
One of the few Bordeaux wines to include Carmenere in the blend, Belle-Vue's final blend in 2005 is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, and 3% Carmenere. It reveals more tannin than most of the "big little wines" in this report, along with great fruit, medium body, and plenty of character. Give it another six months of bottle age, and enjoy it over the following 7-8.
One of the few Bordeaux wines to include Carmenere in the blend, Belle-Vue's final blend in 2005 is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 20% Petit Verdot, and 3% Carmenere. It reveals more tannin than most of the “big little wines†in this report, along with great fruit, medium body, and plenty of character. Give it another six months of bottle age, and enjoy it over the following 7-8.
Bellevue has only been making terrific wine since 2000, which probably explains why they were not upgraded to a grand cru classe in St.-Emilion's most recent reclassification. This small (15.5 acres), south-facing hillside vineyard has such outstanding neighbors as Angelus and both Beausejours. Additionally, it boasted Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt as managers,... read more/less
...who represent uncompromising viticulture and winemaking at its best. The winemaking team is likely to change as the estate was recently sold to Angelus. The 2005, a blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, is a wine for true connoisseurs. It possesses a dense purple color to the rim along with a huge perfume of camphor, charcoal, graphite, blackberries, cassis, raspberries, and a liqueur of rocks-like component. Super-concentrated with chewy richness as well as enormous tannins, it, along with Ausone and Clos de Sarpe, may be St.-Emilion's most backward wine. More of a long distance runner, it will provide little near-term pleasure. Anticipated maturity: 2017-2040.
Vinous
Tasted: 05/01/2008
Drink:
Author: Stephen Tanzer
Bright ruby-red. Sweet cherry dominates the nose. Suave, sweet and spherical; a slightly high-toned fruit bomb, with flavors of cherry, blackberry, currant, crushed rocks and blackberry. An intriguing floral quality gives this very ripe wine a light touch and excellent back-end lift. Very easy to taste today, but this superconcentrated wine is likely to close down in the bottle.
The spectacular 2005 Bellevue should rival, possibly eclipse their 2000. This 15.5-acre, south/southwest facing vineyard, near both Beau Sejour Becot and Beausejour-Duffau as well as Angelus, has been on a qualitative roll since Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt began to manage the estate in 2000. A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, it possesses an... read more/less
...extraordinary mineral component along with huge, sweet blackberry and cassis notes with hints of raspberries and crushed rocks. A super black/purple color only hints at the wine's richness, massive concentration, and monster tannins. It represents the essence of terroir. Some people were surprised that Bellevue was not promoted in the new St.-Emilion classification, but they have only been making high quality wines since 2000. Prior to that, there was a succession of mediocrities. The 2,000-case 2005 came in at a whopping 14.5% natural alcohol, but the alcohol is barely noticeable due to the wine's richness. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2028+.
A terrific over-achiever located just outside the Margaux appellation, Belle-Vue is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 15% Petit Verdot, and 3% Carmenere that achieved over 13% natural alcohol. Big, spicy aromas of cedar, sweet currants, oak and forest floor emerge from this dense ruby/purple-tinged effort. Medium-bodied, elegant, nuanced, deep, chewy, and moderately tannic, it will need 1-2 years of bottle age, and should last for 7-8 years.
This estate has been on a qualitative hot streak since 2000, when it was taken over by the brilliant team of Nicolas Thienpont and Stephane Derenoncourt. Looking more like a vintage port than a traditional Bordeaux, the 2005 (less than 2,000 cases produced) was fashioned from yields of 38 hectoliters per hectare. A midnight black color is accompanied by an extraordinary... read more/less
...perfume of crushed rocks, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, and flowers. Boasting a fabulous texture, superb richness, huge tannin, and massive concentration, this stunning 2005 will need 7-10 years to reach adolescence. It is a brilliant wine, but not for the shy of heart. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2026.
Contact details
Address
BP 90042, Saint-Émilion, France
BP 90042, Saint-Émilion, France