Château Bellevue : Coffret Merlot & Calcaire de Saint-Émilion en 6 accords mets & vins prêts à boire

The gourmet expression of merlot across 6 vintages of a great wine from Saint-Émilion

The estate

The Château Bellevue, located in Saint-Émilion, is a wine estate founded in the 17th century. Today, it is run by the Pradel de Lavaux and Boüard de Laforest families. Close to Château Angélus, this Grand Cru Classé of Bordeaux stands out for its exceptional terroir and rigorous viticultural practices.

The vineyard

Château Bellevue spans 3 perfectly homogeneous hectares on the east, south and southwest slopes of Saint-Émilion. The clay-limestone soils give the wine its characteristic minerality. The vines are on average 40 years old.

The wine

Château Bellevue unveils its latest innovation: the “merlot et calcaire de Saint-Émilion en 6 accords mets & vins prêts à boire” box. Through a selection of six vintages (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017), it reveals not only the identity but also the aromatic richness of a unique grape variety, merlot.

2012 
The 2012 vintage, which began with a mild, moderately rainy spring, then experienced a summer marked by high heat and almost no rain, has produced a rich and expressive wine where oregano, truffle and sun-dried tomato appear on the nose. The palate, ample and caressing, rests on chalky tannins, while a subtle saline note on the finish prolongs the pleasure. Perfect for enhancing a roasted beef tenderloin, this wine pairs wonderfully with a sweet potato mousseline and glazed root vegetables.

2013
A cool and very rainy spring preceded an unstable summer with irregular rainfall. Despite these conditions, 2013 combines lightness with invigorating freshness. On the nose, it reveals spicy notes of Espelette pepper, sun-dried tomato and hay. The palate stands out with its silky texture and remarkably fine tannins, while subtle hints of bitter orange zest underline this vintage’s natural vivacity. Ideal for accompanying chicken supremes stuffed with mushrooms and ricotta, drizzled with a creamy parsnip purée.

2014
The 2014 vintage, elegant in its finesse, unfolded in a classic spirit with good maturities during a cool, ocean-influenced summer, pushing the harvest to a later period. On the nose, it displays roasted and graphite notes, mingled with the fruity sweetness of crushed strawberries and the tangy freshness of blood orange. The palate is distinguished by its carefully nurtured aging aromas and assertive tannins that create a perfectly balanced structure. A lingering cassis perfume brings a gourmand touch and supports the finish. Perfect for enhancing a grilled rib of beef, accompanied by truffle-oil mashed potatoes and thyme-roasted vegetables.

2015
The 2015 vintage, bathed in generous sunshine, allowed the merlots to reach optimal maturity before harvest. On the nose, this wine seduces with its gourmand and fruity character, revealing aromas of rum, ripe grapes and vanilla. The attack on the palate is creamy, first carried by dark fruits, then evolving with grace, softness and freshness in a beautiful amplitude. An elegant acid framework and harmonious tannins structure the whole, while a final touch of crushed strawberries elevates the tasting. Ideal for accompanying roasted duck breast, served with a sweet potato purée and a fig sauce.

2016
The 2016 vintage, benefiting from a cool and humid summer and late maturation, developed a perfect harmony between the fruit’s sweetness and aromatic intensity. On the nose, it is very expressive, blending generous notes of ripe fruit and creamy nuances, enhanced by a pleasant freshness. The attack, frank and ample, gives way to round and silky tannins, supported by a graceful acid thread. Then, gooseberry aromas unfold before giving way to a remarkably long finish. This wine will flourish ideally alongside a roasted veal rack, creamy Parmesan polenta and a rosemary-reduced jus.

2017
The 2017 vintage, spared by spring frost, reveals itself above all as a pure expression of its terroir, upheld by a temperate climate. On the nose, it offers a bouquet of fresh fruit heightened by notes of blackcurrant and raspberry. The flavorful attack quickly gives way to a finely structured and brilliantly fresh palate, before ending on a taut yet gentle and elegant finish. This vintage pairs ideally with a pan-seared veal steak, accompanied by a parsnip purée and a short blackcurrant jus.