Chateau Bellevue Mondotte 2016

JEB DUNNUCK: "One of the standouts from the Right Bank is the 2016 Bellevue Mondotte, a powerful, full-bodied, structured effort that offers incredible minerality in its blackcurrant, graphite, new leather and burning ember-like aromas and flavors. A blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, from tiny yields and brought up all in new oak, it has remarkable purity and freshness, and is locked and loaded on the palate. Give this monument in the making 4-5 years of bottle age and it will cruise for 2-3 decades in cold cellars."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Opaque in color, the wine is powerful, mineral-driven and intense. There is a real depth of flavor with waves of ripe fruit, crushed rocks, oyster shell, smoke, espresso, licorice and chocolate. Patience is going to be a virtue here as the wine insists on at least 10-15 years before it will be ready to strut its stuff."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Deep purple-black, the 2016 Bellevue Mondotte has a dark, seductive, opulent nose of star anise, cumin seed, dried roses, incense and cedar chest over a core of plum preserves, baked blueberries, dates and Christmas cake plus hints of unsmoked cigars and tapenade. The full-bodied palate is a behemoth of fruit with a rock-solid frame to match, featuring firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and very spicy."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This almost pure merlot shows a solid core of dark berries and a hint of dark chocolate. Full-bodied, ripe and round with compact tannins. Extremely long and intentional. Gorgeous finish. Drink after 2025."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A very polished and frankly ripe style, with caressing cassis and creamed raspberry notes cruising through, infused with anise and warm licorice flavors that drape across the finish. Despite the obvious style, this has density without coming off as heavy, with a very long finish that lets the fruit sing. Will have fans for sure. Best from 2021 through 2035."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, fester Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, feine reife Kirschenfrucht, ein Hauch von Lakritze und Pflaumen, Nuancen von Mandarinenzesten, mineralischer Touch. Am Gaumen straff, rotbeerig, wirkt elegant und frisch, zitroniger Nachhall, lebendiger Stil."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The six-acre vineyard sits on the plateau of Saint-Émilion. Juicy acidity and fresh black fruits give this wine an immediately attractive character. It is enhanced by perfumed tannins: not dry, almost sweet and certainly rich. Drink this wine from 2024."

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes Purpur mit violettem Rand. Was für ein Konzentrat nach Heidelbeeren und schwarzen Johannisbeeren, dahinter Veilchen und Erdbeeren. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit sehr dichter Textur, stützendem Tannin und muskulöser Struktur. Enorm viel Power, die dieses Konzentrat aber abzufangen versteht. Hier wurde deutlich besser und vorsichtiger gearbeitet als im vergangenen Jahr."