A complex and complete Bellefont-Belcier that shows a touch of pepper and mineral character to the deep flavors of dark cherries, violets and blackberries. Tense and pretty bright with lightly chewy and vibrating tannins throughout. This is more about texture, with medium to full body and a tight-grained, lengthy finish. 72% merlot, 18% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. Drink from 2028.
96 points, Zekun Shuai, James Suckling (Jan 2025)
The 2022 Bellefont Belcier, a blend of 72% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, confirms all our expectations placed on it during the en primeur tasting. Wafting from the glass with a fresh, delicate and complex bouquet of dark wild berries, flowers, iris, cassis and spices, it's medium to full-bodied, suave and seamless with a deep core of fruit and a vibrant, energetic mid-palate framed by delicate, refined tannins and culminating in a long, saline finish with chalky dry extracts. It will offer a broad drinking window.
95 points, Yohan Castaing, Wine Advocate (Mar 2025)
Spicy black cherries, blue fruits, savory herbs, dried flowers, and new saddle leather notes all emerge from the 2022 Château Bellefont-Belcier, a pure, polished, incredibly elegant 2022 that has a round, layered mouthfeel, ripe yet building tannins, and outstanding length. I love its overall complexity, and it's a more nuanced, complex wine in the vintage that's going to evolve and drink well for two decades. The 2022 is 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. Tasted multiple times with consistent results.
95 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Feb 2025)
Plump ruby fruits, intense baking spice, grilled cumin, white pepper and sage, this has fingerprints of the intensity and concentration of the vintage, expertly handled with plenty of lift and juice through the palate, soaking up the signature of these high quality clay-limestone soils. 2nd year of organic conversion. Aged in a mix of 30% new oak, 30% ovoid casks, 40% neutral oak, harvest 7 September to 6 October, 14ha of vines.
95 points, Jane Anson (Mar 2025)
Lovely aromatic profile with seriously perfumed scents of red berry fruit, roses, clove and dried herbs. Hints of the vintage come through in the ripe fruit with just chewy tannins while the freshness appears from high acidity with a salty tang on the finish. This combines power and push with energy and focus creating a layered and characterful wine. It's still a touch serious - lots of sticky liquorice, clove, bitter chocolate, tobacco and aniseed spice but delivers intensity and appeal in equal measure. Wait for a few years before opening.
95 points, Georgina Hindle, Decanter (Jan 2025)
A blend of 72% Merlot with 18% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, there is less oak impact from the élevage in this vintage, the number of large oak vats used for the maturation increasing from two the previous year to three this year. The aromatics are sweet and threaded with desiccated cherry, toast, leather and dark chocolate. A rather svelte texture follows on the start of the palate, and this is maintained through the middle, with a core of dried cherry, dark chocolate, black pepper and liquorice, supported by rather polished chalky tannins, and fresh acidity. This all works together really well, and there is a fine sense of cohesion on the finish. A silky and sinewy interpretation of the vintage here, but do not be fooled;there is a dense core of tannin, which persists in the finish, and this will benefit from cellar time. Impressive. Tasted three times. The alcohol on the label is 15%, which does not show on the palate.
94 points, Chris Kissack, Wine Independent (Jun 2025)
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