In 2008, the Moueix family merged Chateau Belair and Chateau Magdelaine, formally establishing Chateau Belair-Monange. While the estate is a newcomer on paper, Belair-Monange hosts one of Bordeaux’s longest-standing histories, dating back to the 6th century when Roman farmers cultivated the land. As part of the prestigious Moueix portfolio, Belair-Monange produces one of St. Emilion’s best Merlot-driven wines from a 26-hectare vineyard. Rich, opulent, and intense, Belair-Monange wines are a prize for any cellar.
Chateau Belair-Monange: History Behind the Chateau
Chateau Belair-Monange finds its origins between two estates: Chateau Belair and Chateau Magdelaine. The former became the home territory to which the two were merged, located on a limestone plateau in St. Emilion. Its roots date back to the 6th century, where archaeologists unearthed remains of a villa that suggest the presence of vines. Once Roman control ceased, a settlement was established during the Middle Ages, then purchased by the powerful Canolle de Lescours family and transformed into a wine estate. Over the next two centuries, Chateau Belair was just one of many St. Emilion estates under Lescours family control and was eventually classified as a leading St. Emilion wine in the 1850 Cocks et Ferret guide.
After two centuries, Chateau Belair was sold to the owners of neighboring Chateau Ausone, where the estate gained Premier Grand Cru Classè B status in the inaugural 1955 St. Emilion Classification. However, by 1975, the estate had become dilapidated due to the onset of phylloxera and the death of Ausone owner, Edouard Dubois-Challon. His wife, Helyette, took over with the help of winemaker Pascal Delbeck, though the pair left Chateau Belair as an afterthought. As such, the estate brought in little money, but its vineyard demanded high rent, forcing Delbeck to sell shares of the chateau to the Moueix family’s negociant business, Establissments Jean-Pierre Moueix.
Then, in 2008, the remaining shares were sold to the Moueix family, and the estate was quickly renamed Chateau Belair-Monange. The name “Monange” roughly translates to “my angel” in English and was added to the title to celebrate Christian Moueix’s grandmother, Anne-Adele Monanage, who brought the Moueix family to St. Emilion in 1931.
Chateau Magdelaine
Four years after the name change, the Moueix family acquired the neighboring estate, Chateau Magdelaine, merging it into Belair-Monange. The ensuing 2012 St. Emilion Classification became the first to recognize Chateau Belair-Monange, which holds Premier Grand Cru Classè B status.
Chateau Belair-Monange St. Emilion: Terroir & Winemaking
Chateau Belair-Monange is home to 26 hectares in Bordeaux’s St. Emilion appellation. The estate is located next to Chateaux Canon and Ausone and is planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Its soil contains blue clay on the limestone plateau and a thin layer of sandy clay over a subsoil of thick clay on the southern slopes.
The vineyard lies on one of the appellation’s highest elevations and primarily contains vines that average 40 years of age, while some were planted in the 1930s, and one block dates back as far as the 1900s. Once the Moueix family took ownership, the remaining vines of Malbec and Petit Verdot that survived the 20th century phylloxera outbreak were removed.
Many experts consider Chateau Belair-Monange’s terroir to be amongst the greatest in St. Emilion, as the soils provide freshness, minerality, and unique elegance to the wine. Furthermore, the southern slopes produce rich and supple grapes, which are often used in the second and third wines.
Each harvest is picked by micro-terroir at ideal ripeness, followed by a sorting on a laser sorting table, destemming, and small-lot vinification. The fruit is then fermented in thermos-regulated vats, which Christian and Edouard Moueix, Eric Murisaco (Technical Director), and Laurent Descos (Cellar Master) taste on a regular basis. The final step in the process involves aging the wines in 50% new French oak barrels for 14 to 18 months.
The state-of-the-art winery was built by the Basel architects Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron, who both constructed the winery at Dominus Estate in 1997 and Chateau La Fleur-Petrus in 2002. The project hit the ground in December 2015, when initial drawings were drafted. Then, in March 2019, construction began, with the first vinification taking place in September 2022 and completion in April 2023.
Belair-Monange: Wine Portfolio
Château Belair-Monange’s flagship label is Merlot-dominant with a small amount of Cabernet Franc. The wine has been celebrated for its signature Right Bank, powerful profile, and silky elegance. Bottles are known to last in the cellar for up to two decades, with top vintages speculated to age as far as three to four decades. The chateau gained its highest score from the Wine Advocate with the 2015 vintage, which Lisa Perrotti-Brown labeled, “a remarkably riveting wine that should not be missed.”
Annonce de Belair Monange
Annonce de Belair Monange is the second wine from Chateau Belair-Monange and was first produced in the 2014 vintage. Limited quantities are crafted for approachable drinking in its youth and undergoes the same meticulous vinification as the flagship label. Following the vineyard restructuring guided by the Moueix family's takeover, the new proprietors aimed to create a second label that could personify the terroir's minerality and concentration.
Haut Roc Blanquant
Haut Roc Blanquant is the third wine from Chateau Belair-Monange and was first crafted in the 2014 vintage. The wine is named after a historic plot on the vineyard and is selectively produced from fruit combining charm and suppleness. When blended and aged, the final cuvée features a fruity, charming, vibrant tone from a young age.
Secure Your Bottle of Chateau Belair-Monange
A relatively young estate in name only, Chateau Belair-Monange combines the exquisite terroir of St. Emilion with the crafty winemaking talents of the Moueix family, quickly acquiring a cult following on the Right Bank. With bottles typically priced under $200, Belair-Monange represents one of Bordeaux's greatest values and is the perfect cellar addition for Merlot drinkers. Browse our selection of in-stock Belair-Monange wines today and secure a bottle for your cellar.
