Belair-Magdelaine vertical dinner at Noize, London

[Comte Flaneur]

Last night I fulfilled an ambition to hold a Ch. Magdelaine vertical dinner, supplemented with some bottles of Ch. Belair and the merged entity of Ch. Belair-Monange.

Last night’s line up was greatly enhanced by my friend Paul Day who generously provided the 1970, 1971, 1985, 1998 and 2001 vintages of Magdelaine, with a bottle and a magnum each of the 1985 to compare.

Chateau Magdelaine

1970 - serene, cool, but skinnier and less profound than a magical bottle drunk with Blanquito a year ago - 92

1971 - came off the bench for the 1978 but corked

1976 - beetroot, root vegetables and molasses, I liked this more than the others! - 89

1978 - over the hill, stood down

1985 bottle - floral and mineral notes; intense, precise, fully resolved, perfectly poised; my and group runner up - 96

1985 magnum - savoury with less intensity and precision than the bottle - 92

1988 - savoury, smoky ashtray/1970s cafe, a point - 93

1990 - ripe, sweet notes, meaty, metallic note on the back, I was hoping for better - 91

1993 - beautifully resolved and effortlessly charming, a revelation - 92

1995 - something not right here, seemed unbalanced, poor bottle - NR

1996 - old school charm, cool fruited with alluring capsicum/green pepper notes - 91

1998 - still young and taut, slate and tobacco, intense, light on its feet, fabulous, my and group wotn - 96

2001 - beautiful, plummy, chocolatey, seductive and moreish, still young - 93

2002 - similar to the 1993 - shows how good Magdelaine can be in a modest vintage - 91

2003 - a good effort in this vintage, ripe and a little roasted but nice - 89



Chateau Belair

1983 - corked, stood down

2000 - fully mature, this has aged gloriously, such a pleasure - 93

2004 - also evolving beautifully, equally good with that classical limestone leitmotif - 93



Chateau Belair-Monange

2016 Annonce - well made wine, but a little anonymous right now - 91

2014 - superb, drinking well now with the Belair limestone signature writ large - 93

2017 - a little closed down, cherries and minerals, excellent wine underneath - 93

2018 - a bigger wine from a warmer vintage, rich fruits and spices, great potential - 93


It was a fun experience with a few ups and downs, but with enough wine to go round. It was an evening which amply demonstrated the credentials and old school appeal of the now sadly defunct Chateau Magdelaine.

The 1998 was deservedly voted the wine of the night, followed by the 1985 in bottle. For me it was a very close call and the latter was a mature version of the former. The combined votes of the 1985 bottle and magnum did not quite match the 1998. I will post the score sheet later.

Perhaps the surprise of the night was how well the two bottles of Ch Belair showed: the 2000 and 2004 have evolved beautifully with exquisite terroir expression. While the Belair-Monanges are overtly more modern wines, they maintain that signature.

[Comte Flaneur]

This was the original line up and menu

[Musigny 151]

Thanks Ian.Great notes.
Quite a bit of overlap with our tasting, particularly your two winners 1985 and 1998, although in our case the ‘85 beat out 1998. Sad about the 1990; it should with the 1970 have been highlights. The 1970 we had recently was superb.

I have had a few Belair Monange, and don’t get close to the terroir, but then it’s a young property.

[Blanquito]

Another wonderful event and notes, Ian. I’m sitting on 6 of the 98 Magdelaine, so such notes make me pleased. Still never had an 85 though!

Fun to read such encouraging notes on the Belair too. I have an 82 Belair with a very good fill we need to try some day.

[AKR]

Very impressive. I wish I had picked up some Belair when their middling reviews typically made them low priced.