The 2016 Château Bellefont-Belcier is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru with a bold yet elegant blend of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Crafted with input from Michel Rolland and aged in 80% new oak, it shows off concentrated black fruits, floral notes, and a muscular structure. Highly rated by critics (JS 95, RP 93+), it's expressive, age-worthy, and drinking beautifully with some decanting or a few more years in bottle.

Jamessuckling.com | JS 95
Published: Jan 21, 2019

Very fresh with fine dry tannins that carry the concentrated and ripe palate very nicely. I love the floral and currant bouquet that’s very enticing, in spite of the wine’s youth. Lots of blackcurrant and tobacco. A blend of 65 per cent merlot, 20 per cent cabernet franc and 15 per cent cabernet sauvignon. Try in 2020.

The Wine Advocate | RP 93+
Published: Nov 30, 2018
Drink: 2021-2011

The 2016 Bellefont Belcier is blended of 65% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. It was aged for 20 months in 80% new and 20% one-year-old barrels. Michel Rolland consults for this wine. Deep garnet-purple in color, it gives delicate dried flowers, garrigue, dusty soil and smoked meats over warm black plums and blackberry preserves with hints of menthol. The palate is full-bodied, concentrated and muscular with a rock-solid structure and loads of layered black fruit in the mid-palate, with a lingering earthiness to the finish. 5,000 cases produced.

Decanter | D 91
Published: Apr 18, 2023
Drink: 2023-2035

A savoury vintage with dark plum and blackberry, and with more energy than the 2015, but overripe fruit with drying, oak-derived tannins slightly detract.

Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.50%
Body: Medium
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 20% Cabernet Franc 15% Cabernet Sauvignon 65% Merlot

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17
Published: Jun 26, 2019
Drink: 2021-2034

Looks a little more developed than the 2015, oddly. Rich, toasty nose. Lots of fresh fruit and vitality on the palate. Very nice wine that perhaps lacks the opulence of a perfect one but is very successful. You could almost drink it already with chewy food!