2017 Bellevue Mondotte, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

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.

A final blend of 90% Merlot with 10% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Belair Monange has a flamboyant nose of potpourri, Indian spices, Sichuan pepper, hoisin and sandalwood over a core of crème de cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry preserves with a waft of dusty earth. The medium to full-bodied palate is rich and seductive with oodles of freshness and layers of floral and spice notions, finishing long. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, erobertparker.com, April 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. - vinous.com, May 2018

Fine 2ha limestone-based estate owned by Gerard Perse of Chateau Pavie. Deep, dark, backwards, mineral driven, with black cherry jam and blueberry on the nose. Huge richness but extremely pretty fruit with raspberry, blueberry and lifted by higher toned red cherry and floral notes. Thick and intense but with excellent balance. - April 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. - jamessuckling.com, April 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. - vinous.com, May 2018

90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 100% new oak. Totally opaque dark purple crimson. There's a little bit of greenness on the nose, and then it is just so extracted and dense on the palate, it's hard to taste now. Bitter, like 100% dark chocolate. Very thick and chewy tannins but not hard, just really dense. Not my style but it has freshness and should come round given enough time in bottle. (JH)

Totally opaque dark purple crimson. There's a little bit of greenness on the nose, and then it is just so extracted and dense on the palate, it's hard to taste now. Bitter, like 100% dark chocolate. Very thick and chewy tannins but not hard, just really dense. Not my style but it has freshness and should come round given enough time in bottle. - Julia Harding, jancisrobinson.com, April 2018