Chateau
Bellefont-Belcier is located on the south hill of St-Emilion, between Pavie and
Larcis Ducasse. The name Bellefont means ‘beautiful fountains’, and refers to a
cluster of freshwater springs nearby. Belcier stands for a powerful family of Bordelais
nobility.
At the
end of 18th century, Count Louis Francois Belcier, who was secretary
to King Louis XVI, created an estate as a stopover for the king, but the
project was stopped because of the French Revolution. Later the estate was sold
for many times, and in 1889 passed to the hands of the Faures, a family of
Bordeaux wine traders. Pierre Faure built the famous and unique circular
vathouse under an umbrella-shaped framework, reputedly designed by Gustave
Eiffel. 
Later
the estate was sold to the Labusquiere family, and in 1994 Jacques Berrebi and
Alain Laguillaumie acquired and renovated the buildings, with Dominique Hebard
joining them in 2004.
Totaling
13 ha, with limestone-clay soils, the vines are averaging 30 years of age,
planted with 70% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The
wines are matured in new oak casks for 18-24 months before bottling.
I have recently tasted the 2001 vintage and below is my tasting note:
Acceptable quality St-Emilion with medium ruby color, a reasonable nose though without much complexity, showing blackberry, plum, liquorice, wet leaves and coffee. Quite high in acidity, the tannin is a bit astringent with grippy texture. The wine is fairly full-bodied, with reasonably intens...e palate of blackberry, plum, smoke and liquorice. With a reasonable finish, it should be consumed now and not intend for further ageing.
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