Bellevue Mondotte - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2018

Vinous

96

par Antonio Galloni le 31/03/2021

The 2018 Bellevue Mondotte is a full-throttle, exotic Saint-Émilion. Inky dark fruit, gravel, spice, mint, lavender, bittersweet chocolate and black pepper are some of the many aromas and flavors that open as this extravagantly ripe Saint-Émilion shows off its allure. Sumptuous and racy, with firm tannins underpinning it all, the 2018 dazzles right out of the gate. I can't wait to see how it ages.

Wine Advocate

97

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 31/03/2021

Grapes for this wine come from the plateau with yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare. Composed of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with a 3.5 pH and 14.56% alcohol, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Bellevue Mondotte slowly unfurls to offer profound scents of chocolate-covered cherries, preserved plums, blackberry compote and espresso, with hints of candied violets, tapenade, cast-iron pan and unsmoked cigars. The full-bodied, opulently fruited palate is laden with black fruit and earthy layers, supported by a solid foundation of firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and perfumed. It's tempting to drink now, but give it a good 5 years in bottle for maximum impact and drink it over the next 25 years or more. 97+

Jeb DUNNUCK

96

par Jeb Dunnuck le 16/03/2021

One of the more primordial, backward wines in the vintage, the 2018 Bellevue Mondotte is 90% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in new barrels. Dense purple-hued, it delivers a mineral-drench bouquet of chocolate-covered currants and black cherries as well as notes of camphor, loamy earth, graphite, and violets. Full-bodied and beautifully concentrated on the palate, it still has the vintage's pure, elegant, light on its feet style as well as plenty of background oak, ripe, silky tannins, and again, this wonderful sense of minerality. The cellar will be your friend. I'd give bottles at least 5-7 years, and it should keep for 30-40 years or more. It's an incredible Saint-Emilion.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97

par Jeff Leve le 16/03/2021

Intensely mineral driven, here you find crushed rock, stone and oceanic influences on the nose and palate. Full-bodied, dense and intense with a wealth of ripe, dark red and black pit fruits, give this full-bodied, intense, concentrated, rich, tannic, youthful wine at least a decade in the cellar before pulling a cork. The wine is made with 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Jamessuckling.com

97

par James Suckling le 04/02/2021

This is really refined with intense tannins that are wonderfully polished, yet powerful. So much crushed stone, mineral, blackberry and blueberry with black-olive and lavender undertones. It’s full-bodied with composure and purpose and a long finish. Chalk undertones. Tight at the end. Small production. Try after 2025.

Wine Spectator

96

par James Molesworth le 01/02/2021

Suave and alluring toast and melted licorice notes draped over a core of warmed plum, raspberry and blackberry confiture flavors make this a real headturner. Very polished and focused in feel, thanks to a buried graphite hint that keeps it all honest. Beautiful wine. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2038. –JM

Yvesbeck.wine

93

par Yves Beck le 26/01/2021

Enclavé en partie dans Pavie Decesse, le vignoble de Bellevue Mondotte totalise 2 ha et est constitué d'un sol argilo-calcaire. L'âge moyen des ceps est de 50 ans. Rendement de 30 hl/ha en 2018. Élevage dans 100% de barriques neuves. Le bouquet est complexe, marqué par des nuances florales et fruites ainsi que par son élevage que l'on remarque au travers de notes de caramel. En bouche le vin est crémeux, élégant, élancé et parfaitement équilibré. Ses tannins sont bien enrobés, suaves et assurent la tenue de l'ensemble du palais. Un vin charmant et convaincant.

Vinous

93-95

par Neal Martin le 15/11/2019

The 2018 Bellevue Mondotte was picked on 3 October, the same as Pavie-Decesse and in fact Gérard Perse told me that it just took half a day! It has a very pure and seductive bouquet with precocious black cherries and blueberry aromas, vanilla and crushed violets/peony. There is a tad more complexity than the Pavie-Decesse. The palate is full-bodied with saturated tannin that coats the inner mouth. A fine line of acidity is more restrained than previous vintages with better control and focus towards the sumptuous, cassis-tinged finish. It will require several years in bottle but this is balanced and for a modern-style of Saint-Émilion, well crafted.

WeinWisser

17

par Tjark Witzgall le 07/05/2019

Vinous

93-96

par Antonio Galloni le 01/05/2019

The 2018 Bellevue Mondotte is a hugely promising wine that deftly balances fruit intensity and structure. Often a tannic, forbidding Saint-Émilion in the early going, Bellevue Mondotte is dark, sensual and incredibly inviting. The tannins are there, but they are pretty much buried by the opulence of the fruit. Dark red plum, rose petal, leather and spice all pulse with tremendous energy. The 2018 is an unusually racy, sensual Bellevue Mondotte. I loved it.

Jeb DUNNUCK

96-98

par Jeb Dunnuck le 01/05/2019

The 2018 Bellevue Mondotte is a blockbuster that just jumps out of the glass with its crème de cassis, crushed violets, blackberry, and licorice aromas and flavors. It's powerful, opulent, and massively textured, yet never over the top or too much. It has building tannins, no hard edges, and a great finish.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

par Jeff Leve le 23/04/2019

On the floral and licorice side, the wine is ostentatious, fleshy, full-bodied, opulent and powerful. With fabulous viscosity, density, length and power, the fruit, rocks and crushed stones get you hooked as it coats your palate. This is not a shy wine. It is big, powerful and comes with a massive wall of fruit, stones and tannin. The finish keeps on going with its powerful, flamboyant character. This is not a wine to enjoy young. So be prepared to cellar it for close to a decade before popping a bottle. The wine is made with 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Advocate

95-97

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 23/04/2019

Grapes for this wine come from the plateau and were harvested October 3, with yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare. Composed of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with a 3.5 pH and 14.56% alcohol, the deep purple-black colored 2018 Bellevue Mondotte opens with alluring scents of Christmas cake, blueberry pie, chocolate-covered cherries and hoisin with nuances of Chinese five spice, iron ore, rose hip tea and cracked black pepper. Full-bodied, rich, opulent and totally decadent in the mouth, the palate has a plush texture and maintains that incredible freshness that defines these beautiful wines on the terrace—finishing with tons of spicy fireworks.

Jamessuckling.com

96-97

par James Suckling le 12/04/2019

This has a real mineral undertone this year with lots of dark-berry, cherry and blueberry character. Full-bodied, chewy and powerful. Excellent. Limestone coming through.

Wine Spectator

93-96

par James Molesworth le 03/04/2019

Vibrant blackberry and plum fruit flavors are pure, engaging and fresh in this red. Light-handed toast detail lets this play out nicely. Seems to be a tasty fruit bomb in the making.

Decanter.com

92

par Jane Anson le 01/04/2019

The Perse wines this year are all of a very high standard, and there's no question that winemaking influence has been softened, but they remain at the extreme end of the scale of the appellation as a whole. Pumped up but pretty delicious on the palate, this wine is powerful and concentrated, rippling with - rather than constricted by - the tannins. The 2ha of 50-year-old vines (on average) produced a 30hl/ha yield in 2018. 100% new oak. 3.5pH.
Drinking Window 2027 - 2041

Yvesbeck.wine

93

par Yves Beck le 01/04/2019

Pourpre violacé. Le bouquet de Bellevue Mondotte peine un peu à révéler son fruit. Il a besoin d’un peu d’air pour finalement révéler des notes de myrtilles et de menthe. Au palais, le vin est friand, fruité et compacte. Il a de la fraîcheur et présente des tannins parfaitement intégrés, en harmonie avec la structure. Là aussi, le changement de style est frappant. C’est la fraîcheur qui prend le dessus. Un vin élégant que l’on pourra déjà savourer jeune mais qui a de quoi aller dans le temps. 2023-2036