Chateau Belair-Monange is the name given to the reconstituted estate formed when the Moueix family merged the historic Chateau Belair, one of Saint-Emilion's oldest properties, with portions of Chateau Magdelaine following Magdelaine's discontinuation in 2012. Belair's walled vineyards on the limestone plateau and slopes adjacent to Ausone had been farmed by the Moueix family since the mid-twentieth century and are considered among the finest terroirs in the appellation. The 2012 vintage represents one of the first releases under the new Belair-Monange identity.

The 2012 Saint-Emilion vintage was challenging, marked by difficult ripening conditions and strict selection requirements to produce wines of quality. For Belair-Monange, whose limestone plateau parcels adjacent to Ausone are among the most prized in the appellation, the vintage tested the capacity of the Moueix team to extract quality from difficult conditions. Moueix's decades of experience managing Right Bank limestone terroirs gave the estate an advantage in navigating 2012's complications.

Belair-Monange occupies a historically significant position in Saint-Emilion: the original Belair estate dates to the Middle Ages, and the vineyard was considered one of the appellation's finest long before the modern classification system formalised the hierarchy. The addition of Magdelaine's limestone plateau and southern slope holdings reinforced an already exceptional terroir assemblage. At this stage, the Moueix renovation programme and the gradual integration of the two former estates' vineyard characters should be evident in the wine.

Drink from now through 2030. Pair with roasted lamb, duck or structured Merlot-friendly dishes. Decant one to two hours before service and serve at 16 degrees Celsius.

Deep garnet with some evolution. The nose shows the classic limestone character of Saint-Emilion's plateau, with black cherry, tobacco, cedar and a mineral thread of chalk and clay. The palate is medium-full bodied with firm but maturing tannins and a focused, mineral finish. Genuine Saint-Emilion terroir from a historically prestigious address.