Château Bélair-Monange was born from the vineyards of Châteaux Bélair and Magdelaine, both historic First Classified Growths of Saint-Émilion. Tracing its origins back to Roman times, the vineyard of Château Bélair is situated at the highest point of Saint-Émilion’s famed limestone plateau. Château Magdelaine, a contiguous cru acquired in 1952, has always been renowned for the remarkable elegance of its wines. Château Bélair-Monange expresses the unique style of the greatest parcels of these two complementary terroirs.

An important restructuring of the vineyard was initiated in 2008 immediately following the acquisition of the estate by Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix. Another wine embodying the inherent qualities of the vineyard – minerality, concentration of red berries, balance and length – emerged in 2014: Annonce de Bélair-Monange.

Produced in very limited quantities, Annonce enjoys the same attention as the Grand Vin: meticulous vineyard work undertaken with respect for the environment followed by a manual harvest once the grapes have reached optimal maturity. Vinification takes place in concrete and stainless-steel vats, where maceration and extraction are gentle and measured in order to allow the fruit its highest expression. The wine is then aged in French oak barrels.

Although Annonce exhibits great charm in its youth, a few years of cellaring or a few hours of decanting will be largely rewarded.

“A firm, very polished and refined red with dark-berry, chocolate and vine-bark character. Hints of bitter burnt lemon, too. Full-bodied with redcurrant, mineral and salty undertones. Lightly dusty tannins and a flavorful finish. Reserved still, with good reason. Second wine of Belair-Monange. Try after 2026.”95 points, James Suckling, February 2022

“The second wine of Belair-Monange and 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, the 2019 Annonce De Belair-Monange ratchets up the purity and finesse, offering wonderful red cherry, currant, tobacco, cedar pencil, and floral aromas and flavors. Rich, medium to full-bodied, and seamless on the palate, it’s another impeccably made wine from this team that has loads of character. I’d happily drink bottles any time over the coming decade or more.”
92 points, Jeb Dennuck, April 2022

“The 2019 Annonce de Bélair-Monange is the second wine of the château. It offers up succulent dark cherry fruit, spice and dried flowers, along with veins of saline minerality that give the wine its shape and energy. The combination of fruit and vibrancy is quite appealing. Although Annonce is a second wine, its persistence and class are undeniably top notch.”
90 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media, January 2022