Bellevue Mondotte - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2017

Wine Advocate

97

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 17/03/2020

There was no frost in the vineyard in 2017, due to its elevation. Deep garnet purple in color, the 2017 Bellevue Mondotte is composed of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal vibrant notes of crushed blackberries, warm plums, black raspberries and wild blueberries plus wafts of star anise, garrigue and lavender. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with tension and intense blue and black fruit layers, framed by super firm, super ripe, fine-grained tannins, finishing very long and earthy. Drinking Window : 2024 - 2054. 97+

Vinous

96

par Antonio Galloni le 11/03/2020

The 2017 Bellevue Mondotte is just as impressive from bottle as it was en primeur. Powerful and structured, with tremendous intensity in all of its dimensions, the 2017 is all class. Inky dark fruit, graphite, menthol and licorice all come together with time in the glass. This tiny vineyard on very poor limestone subsoil gives wines of real power and structure. The 2017 is a gorgeous Saint-Émilion endowed with tons of energy and tension.

Wine Spectator

96

par James Molesworth le 07/02/2020

Beautifully rendered, with a long beam of pure cassis and crushed plum fruit, flanked by subtle chalky minerality and backed by violet, anise and smoldering black tea notes. The sleek, lengthy finish pulls everything together with metronomic precision. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2038. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 266 cases made. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

94

par James Suckling le 13/01/2020

This shows wonderful dark fruit with dark-chocolate and cappuccino undertones. Full body. Tight and compact. Tangy acidity and a juicy finish. Really appreciate the polished tannins that melt into the wine. Try after 2023.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

par Jeb Dunnuck le 12/06/2018

Coming from older vines east of Pavie Decesse (in slightly more clay soils), the 2017 Bellevue Mondotte is a powerful, concentrated 2017 that offers fabulous notes of blueberries, flowers, and violets. One of the more broad, expansive, and sexy wines in the vintage, with terrific purity of fruit, it should round into form with just short-term cellaring and cruise for two decades.

Vinifera

92

par Jacques Perrin le 28/05/2018

Nez riche et légèrement confit, sur les fruits noirs, le graphite. Gros volume de bouche qui dévoile un vin sphérique et rond, dense, ample et velouté.

Vinous

95-97

par Antonio Galloni le 15/05/2018

Powerful, dark and explosive, the 2017 Bellevue Mondotte bristles with the energy and tension that is such a signature of this tiny 1.5 hectare Saint-Émilion cru. Graphite, smoke, crème de cassis and menthol race out of the glass. As always, Bellevue Mondotte is a tannic, searing Saint-Émilion with bracing acids and tons of structure. It is also one of the most fascinating wines in Gérard Perse's lineup.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

par Jeff Leve le 11/05/2018

Smoky black and blue fruit, licorice and spice box allure create the aromatic profile. Deep in color with a supple texture and ripe, sweet, opulent plums, this wine finishes with a spicy, mineral character sustaining the plethora of ready fruit. Produced from a blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine reached 14.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.47. Yields were quite low at only 16 hectoliters per hectare this vintage.

Vinous

89-91

par Neal Martin le 01/05/2018

The 2017 Bellevue-Mondotte was picked on 27 September like the Pavie-Decesse. It has a very deep color, almost opaque. The bouquet is difficult to fathom, inky and high-toned, nothing volatile but it feels rather monotone. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannin, quite bold and assertive in style, impressive in depth but it is missing the finesse and refinement I would seek on the creamy-textured finish. In an odd way I find this reminiscent of how Pavie used to show a decade ago, but whereas Pavie has moved on, Bellevue-Mondotte seems unwilling to just take its foot off of the accelerator.

Wine Advocate

96-98

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 27/04/2018

There was no frost in this vineyard in 2017, due to its elevation. Made up of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the very deep purple-black colored 2017 Bellevue Mondotte has a seriously earthy character—molten rocks—with suggestions of truffles and fertile soil over a core of crème de cassis and plum preserves, plus a hint of camphor. The palate is medium to full-bodied, concentrated, intense and powerful with firm, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long.

Decanter.com

93

par Jane Anson le 25/04/2018

Up on the plateau, this was spared the ravages of frost but still only yielded 16hl/ha. It has the Perse signature punch of fruit, then the limestone breaks through (there is also a touch more clay here than at Pavie Decesse). The punch almost hides the fruit at first, but it really does finish beautifully and has amazing persistency. The 50-year-old vines have produced a wine that will age extremely well. Tasted several times. 3.58pH.

Drinking Window 2026 - 2038

WeinWisser

17

par René Gabriel le 25/04/2018

Jean-Marc QUARIN

15,75

par Jean-Marc Quarin le 17/04/2018

Wine Enthusiast

93-95

par Roger Voss le 17/04/2018

This wine has great fruit, minerality and a dark, dense texture. It is powerful, rich and concentrated, just hinting at its great potential fruitiness. Give it many years, and certainly try to hold until at least 2025.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

par James Suckling le 06/04/2018

A chewy 2017 with lots of wet-earth and dark-berry character. Some bark, too. Full body, a medium center palate and a flavorful finish. Wait and see how it comes together.

Wine Spectator

91-94

par James Molesworth le 04/04/2018

An enticing red, with succulent fig and blackberry compote flavors at the core, this has a shot of flashy toast, which is well-integrated. A neat graphite streak shows on the finish.—J.M.