Château Bélair-Monange

Bélair-Monange

History of the Castle

In the 14th century, when Guyenne was still under English rule, the estate belonged toSir Robert de Knolles(or Knowles) Governor of Guyenne. His descendants will take the name of “Canolle"(Frenchified version of Knolles) and will hold the reins of the estate until 1916. That isEdouard Dubois-Challon, a major figure on the right bank as owner ofChâteau Ausonewho will buy back theBelair Castle.Then, for the sake of distinction, the castle was renamedChâteau Bélair-Monangeon the occasion of its acquisition by theJean-Pierre Moueix Housein 2008. This passing of the torch also marked the beginning of a major overhaul of the estate. This included the creation of a new vat room and a functional wine cellar, a restructuring of the vineyard, and the restoration of the château. In 2012Bélair-Monangeexpands by absorbing the vineyard ofChâteau Magdelaineand the INAO reaffirms to this new entity its status asPremier Grand Cru Classé B.

A pioneering castle

A story marked by audacity

The story ofBelair Monange CastleIt dates back several centuries and has been marked by the pioneering spirit of its various owners. First, traces of vines on this part of the Saint-Émilion plateau date back to the Gallo-Roman period. Subsequently, from the 18th century onwards, when the majority of châteaux were still in their infancy, the “raw Canolle" Then "raw Belair" already enjoys a fine reputation. Its excellence places it at the pinnacle of Saint-Émilion wines. Château Belair will also leave its mark on Saint-Émilion by being among the first great Bordeaux wines to practice thebottled at the castleThe first vintage to benefit from this method was that of 1802, a century before this practice became the norm. Finally, since the very first classification of Saint-Émilion wines in 1959,Belair-Monange Castleis classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé B.

Bélair-Monange Wines

The elegance of the union of terroirs

The vineyard ofChâteau Bélair-Monange,consisting of Merlot and Cabernet Franc vines, it is adjacent to that ofChâteau Ausone, Premier Grand Cru Classé A. It benefits from an exceptional terroir on the heights of the Saint-Émilion AOP plateau, taking advantage of the qualities of its original vineyard and that of theChâteau MagdelaineThus, the limestone of the first vineyard provides freshness and minerality, while the blue clay of the second vineyard's slopes brings intensity and length. Recent vintages express the full distinction of this union of terroirs. These are wines of great pedigree, suitable for aging, which will enhance their elegance. Between fruit and minerality, theBelair-Monange winesThey embody the character of the Saint-Émilion appellation. Finally, produced in a limited batch but with the same high standards of quality as the first, theBelair-Monange Castlehas been offering a second wine since 2014:Announcement from Belair-Monange.