Vinous (98)

Bellevue Mondotte is magnificent in 2016. Stunningly rich and concentrated, with tremendous structure, the 2016 has so much to offer. Crème de cassis, raspberry jam, lavender, graphite, game, menthol and a whole rush of inky blue/purplish fruit emerge from this explosive, captivating Saint-Émilion. In 2016 Bellevue Mondotte balances sumptuousness with saline-infused energy and persistence. It is without question one of the truly great wines of the vintage.

Wine Advocate (97+)

Grapes for this wine come from the plateau with yields of 30 hectoliters per hectare. Composed of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon with a 3.5 pH and 14.56% alcohol, the deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Bellevue Mondotte slowly unfurls to offer profound scents of chocolate-covered cherries, preserved plums, blackberry compote and espresso, with hints of candied violets, tapenade, cast-iron pan and unsmoked cigars. The full-bodied, opulently fruited palate is laden with black fruit and earthy layers, supported by a solid foundation of firm, grainy tannins and fantastic freshness, finishing long and perfumed. It's tempting to drink now, but give it a good 5 years in bottle for maximum impact and drink it over the next 25 years or more.

James Suckling (98-99)

This is a terrific wine that has everything, from seamless texture to great depth of fruit. Full-bodied, yet agile and energetic. Pure merlot. One of the best I have had from here.

James Suckling (98-99)

This is a terrific wine that has everything, from seamless texture to great depth of fruit. Full-bodied, yet agile and energetic. Pure merlot. One of the best I have had from here.

James Suckling (95-96)

An intense, full-bodied red with lots of fruit and dark chocolate. Round and juicy tannins. Flavorful finish. Very rich. Salt and minerals. Pure merlot.

Nestled in the vineyards of Bordeaux, France, enjoy a true viticultural masterpiece, l'Excellence de Belliard 2010. Crafted by the esteemed Belliard family, their passion and dedication to winemaking is evident in every bottle of this luxuriously crafted vintage. Evocative of the rich terroir from which it hails, the 2010 blend exhibits an eloquent expression of sophisticate harmony and depth.

Benefitting from the advantageous climate of Bordeaux, the l'Excellence de Belliard 2010 is matured for twenty-four months in French Oak barrels. This technique imbues a nuanced, complex character - a fusion of ripe red fruits, subtle licorice, and delicate spice notes. The robust structure and velvety tannins presente a sublime, lingering finish guaranteed to enrapture the palate.

Earning global recognition for its outstanding quality, the l'Excellence de Belliard 2010 is a treasure to be savoured. This rising star in the vinous firmament offers impeccable proof that perfection truly can be bottled.

Vinous (93)

(from vines reportedly between 85 and 115 years of age) Inky ruby. Spicy blackberry, cherry and dark chocolate on the nose, with complicating notes of espresso and dried violet. Cool and restrained, with a suave, silky tone to the dark fruit flavors and gentle acids bringing freshness and energy. Nothing overdone here. There's impressive clarity and length to the blackberry and blackcurrant flavors. Really gorgeous.

James Suckling (97)

It's time to taste the volcano! Although this is still very young, it has an amazingly refined nose that reminds us of top-class red Burgundy. Quite full-bodied, but super-elegant and transparent, with very fine tannins that build to a stunning crescendo at the mineral finish. Patience will be rewarded! Drinkable now, but best from 2023.

Jeb Dunnuck (93)

Pouring a medium garnet color, the 2022 Etna Rosso Contrada Monte Serra is elegant and refined with ripe cherries, chalky earth, strawberries, wild herbes de Provence, and dusty earth. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a stony, savory finish, it’s graceful and refined, with a Burgundian-like aesthetic. Drink 2025-2037.

Jeb Dunnuck (96)

Minty and lifted, the 2015 Etna Rosso Riserva Rovittello has notes of fresh black cherries, sage, rosemary, and fresh leather. With ripe tannins and even acidity, it’s long on the palate, lasting for ages. It has a deeper profile, although it’s also more elegant and long. One of the top wines in this tasting, drink it over the next 15 years. Drink 2025-2040.

Jeb Dunnuck (94)

Incredibly structured, the garnet red 2015 Etna Rosso Riserva Serra Della Contessa exudes a noble feel, offering a complex yet pure array of aromas, including dried cherries, dried orange, dried herbs, spice, and smoky earth. Medium-bodied but deep and long on the palate, it is hitting its stride, though it should have another ten or more years ahead of it. I wouldn’t expect it to soften much in terms of its grip. Drink 2025-2037.

Vinous (95)

The 2015 Rovittello Particella No. 341 Alberello Centenario is a bit backward today, mixing dusty rose and lavender with nuances of blackberry and spice. It's cool-toned and pleasantly tense with streamlined red berry fruits that slowly saturate the palate. Hints of licorice emerge through the long and structured finale as the 2015 continues to evolve in bottle. Hands off for now, as the Rovittello is in an adolescent stage.

James Suckling (95)

Wonderfully perfumed with fresh flowers like hibiscus as well as cherry and watermelon character. Crushed stone, too. Medium body, firm and silky tannins with a brightness and tension. Some smoke and tar at the end. A little reserved. Drink after 2025.

Emanating sophistication, the Benevelli Piero Barolo Ravera Monforte 2019 is an outstanding representation of Italy's esteemed Barolo denomination. This elegant red wine is rich, complex, and full-bodied, meticulously crafted by winemaker Massimo Benevelli in the prime Monforte terroir in Piedmont, northwestern Italy. Massimo has inherited time-honoured wine-making traditions from his father, ensuring the expression of the grape's fullest potential.

The Benevelli Piero Barolo Ravera Monforte 2019 is produced from 100% Nebbiolo grapes, expertly harvested from the illustrious Ravera vineyard, widely acclaimed for its calcareous clay soil that imparts unique characteristics to the wine. Vinified traditionally, the wine undergoes protracted maceration periods before ageing for two years in large Slavonian oak casks to delicately preserve the refined, nuanced aromas and bold structure-- impeccable tannins with vibrant, lasting acidity. Sensory examination reveals intense layers of wild red fruits, floral undertones, and subtle hints of spices, culminating in a harmoniously enduring finish. A treasure in any collection.

Vinous (93-95)

(not racked; from a single parcel of vines on pure white soil on the Morey-Saint-Denis side of the cru, which was barely touched by frost according to Leroux): Healthy dark red. Captivating lift to the sappy aromas of maraschino cherry, licorice and exotic herbs. Dense, vigorous wine with terrific medicinal reserve and punch to its dark fruit, licorice and mineral flavors. Youthfully imploded in a classic Bonnes-Mares manner but not rigid or hard. A wine with outstanding finishing energy and length, built for a slow evolution in bottle--and a classic expression of its terroir. (Incidentally, Leroux is looking to supplement this fruit source with another piece of Bonnes-Mares.)

Vinous (90-92)

The 2021 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a well-defined bouquet, with a mixture of red and black fruit, undergrowth and dried leaves. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins. It's quite linear for a Bonnes-Mares and has a welcome, bitter edge on the finish. Fine, but a bit gawky.