CHATEAU BELAIR MONANGE

This is a very old estate. How old? Try the 1300s. Bélair was purchased by its rather famous neighbour Château Ausone in 1916; Ausone did the makeover and transformed it from vineyard to winery. It was sometimes opined, however, that it never quite lived up to its potential.

In 2008, Christian Moueix – riding in on Château Pétrus glory – purchased the estate and renamed it Bélair-Monange in honour of his grandmother, Anne-Adèle Monange. In 2012, Moueix merged the neighbouring Château Magdelaine into Bélair-Monange. He believes this 12-hectare vineyard has the finest terroir in Saint-Émilion, and aspires to make it one of Bordeaux' greatest wines.

With Moueix in charge, quality has, somewhat predictably, soared; the wine is already fleshier and more concentrated than previously, with an incredible elegance on the palate and the only direction in sight is upwards.