| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This tiny, 2 hectare vineyard is owned by Gerard Perse of Chateau Pavie and is in effect a "vin de garage" type micro-cuvée that is often even more concentrated than Pavie itself. This blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon is matured in 100% new oak.
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. 2024 - 2054
The 2017 Bellevue Mondotte was bottled in July 2019. The 2017 is endowed with an opulent bouquet that is atypical of the vintage. Much more blue fruit and cassis here compared directly with the Pavie-Decesse. The new oak is more prominent (100%), with a lavish, velvety smooth finish that fans out with blueberry, fig, blackcurrant and a sprinkling of white pepper. I feel that this has improved since its showing in barrel by losing some of its density and firmness. Tt could well evolve into a very fine Saint-Émilion. 2026 - 2045
This shows wonderful dark fruit with dark-chocolate and cappuccino undertones. Full body. Tight and compact. Tangy acidity and a juicy finish. Really appreciate the polished tannins that melt into the wine. Try after 2023.
Up on the plateau, this was spared the ravages of frost but still only yielded 16hl/ha. It has the Perse signature punch of fruit, then the limestone breaks through (there is also a touch more clay here than at Pavie Decesse). The punch almost hides the fruit at first, but it really does finish beautifully and has amazing persistency. The 50-year-old vines have produced a wine that will age extremely well. Tasted several times. 3.58pH.
Drinking Window 2026 - 2038
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.
Drink 2027-2040
The yield in 2017 was a miniscule 16 hl/ha with alcohol at 14.51%. This is one of the most concentrated wines of the vintage, with syrupy viscosity and a very deep colour. The nose is over-ripe and baked, with damsons, figs and raisins. The palate shows syrupy tinned black fruits and sweet liquorice before wave after wave of tannin that suggests every last drop of phenolics has been wrung from the skins in these grapes before elevage in a high percentage of new oak to add yet more tannin and sweet, smoky notes. This is very much not our style at Farr Vintners, but there is not doubting the power here, albeit at the cost of classic balance and elegance. Not for fans of typical Bordeaux.
Firm and fresh the nose is tight the start of the palate has a mix of fresh fruits supported by dry tannins. Richer at the back but the tannins are obvious holding back the fruit and tending to dry the finish. 2025-36
A much better balanced wine from the Perse portfolio, but this doesn’t mean that the oak is in harmony. This is a hugely oaky wine, but there is, thankfully, some fruit here, too. Unfortunately, the overall feel is rather medicinal and sour.
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. Drink 2024-2038.
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.
There was no frost in this vineyard in 2017, due to its elevation. Made up of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the very deep purple-black colored 2017 Bellevue Mondotte has a seriously earthy character—molten rocks—with suggestions of truffles and fertile soil over a core of crème de cassis and plum preserves, plus a hint of camphor. Here, the palate is medium to full-bodied, concentrated, intense and powerful with firm, grainy tannins and wonderful freshness, finishing long.
