Bellevue Mondotte

5/15/2017 Le Figaro - L LE FIGARO - L'AVIS DU VIN (CLUB VIN) : 19 / 20 Nez de fruits rouges frais, prune rouge. Bouche fraîche, ample, gourmande, juteuse, croquante, tannins très ronds et enrobants, finale très longue. Très grande réussite. 5/11/2017 The Wine Cellar Insider THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER (JEFF LEVE) : 97 / 100 A deep shade, smoky and mineral driven with dark, ripe plums that remain on your palate for at least 60 seconds. This is focused, elongated and the fruit is pristine. The sensation of salt and rocks really pulls through here. This is a wine to cellar for a decade or so; it will be well worth the wait. 5/10/2017 Wein Wisser WEIN WISSER (RENÉ GABRIEL) : 18 / 20 5/3/2017 Bettane & Desseauve BETTANE & DESSEAUVE ( BETTANE & DESSEAUVE) : 94-95 / 100 Ampleur mûre et savoureuse, très belle attaque de fruits noirs. L’allonge est racée. 5/2/2017 Martin WINE ADVOCATE (NEAL MARTIN) : 95-97 / 100 The 2016 Bellevue Mondotte is a blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon cropped at 18 hectoliters per hectare because of the old vines and the shallow depth of the earth, 20-30 centimeters until the pickaxe hits limestone. It is matured in 100% new oak, and the alcohol level is 14.84% this year. It has an opulent bouquet with ravishing blueberry and black cherry fruit, crushed violets and a touch of glycerin. The palate is silky smooth on the entry, and whereas I had anticipated being overwhelmed by this Bellevue-Mondotte, it actually retains wonderful elegance and precision. You cannot help but be seduced by this Saint Emilion and its satin-like texture. This is not always my favorite wine from Gérard Perse, as my previous scores attest. However, this year the Bellevue-Mondotte has pulled off a very luxuriant 2016 with a greater sense of control, a wine that should drink beautifully for many years. Tasted twice with consistent notes. 4/28/2017 Quarin JEAN-MARC QUARIN (JEAN-MARC QUARIN) : 15 / 20 Vin coloré, au nez fruité, à la bouche extraite, au fruité et à la longueur moyenne. Impression de fabriqué plus que de terroir. 4/26/2017 Vinous VINOUS (ANTONIO GALLONI) : 95-98 / 100 The 2016 Bellevue Mondotte is striking. An explosion of fruit and mineral-drenched overtones make a strong first impression. Remarkably nuanced for such a big, powerful wine, the 2016 possesses exceptional balance from the very first taste. Graphite, smoke, crème de cassis, lavender and menthol are some of the many notes that build into the huge finish. 4/25/2017 Jukes MATTHEWJUKES.COM (MATTHEW JUKES) : 17 / 20 (90 Merlot, 5 Cabernet Franc, 5 Cabernet Sauvignon) | 100% new oak | 14.8% alc. Very sour and very pinched, there is some seemingly superb fruit here and it looks velvety, plummy and also rather decadent. The oak is bonkers and the fruit is too straightjacketed by this, but it is an arresting wine and there must be so much more one can make with fruit of this undoubted quality but without the heavy-handed extraction, tannin and oak. 17++? 4/21/2017 Robinson JANCIS ROBINSON (JANCIS ROBINSON) : 16 / 20 Blackish crimson. Sweet blackberry compôte plus cumin. Lots of flavour but awfully drying on the end. Maybe this will come right eventually but I'd prefer a wine that's capable of giving pleasure in youth too. Grating, grainy tannins. 16++ 4/19/2017 Wine Enthusiast WINE ENTHUSIAST (ROGER VOSS) : 92-94 / 100 Barrel Sample. This wine is already well-balanced between the ample acidity, fruitiness and structure. There are bright aromas, plenty of good fruitiness on the palate and a solid background structure. A fine showing for this Gerard Perse estate, it has the freshness and elegance of the vintage. 4/10/2017 Wine Spectator WINE SPECTATOR (JAMES MOLESWORTH) : 92-95 / 100 Very, very solid, showing a core of delicious blackberry and dark plum fruit laced with anise and light bramble notes. Has a dose of toast, but it’s integrated and the finish has drive, thanks to a buried chalky spine.—J.M. 4/5/2017 Jamessuckling.com JAMESSUCKLING.COM (JAMES SUCKLING) : 96-97 / 100 There's a vibrance and brilliance that gives this wine focus and energy. Medium body, ultra-fine tannins and a long and beautiful finish. Very fine.