Learn everything about Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairings. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol History, Overview
Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol is one of the lesser-known estates in Pomerol, even though it dates back to at least the late 1800s. Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol is owned by the Melet family under the name of Vignobles Sudrat Melet, which combines the names of the current owner with the family name that first purchased Chateau Bel-Air in 1914, the Sudrat family. At the time of the purchase in 1914, the estate was known as Chateau Sudrat-Boussaton.
At one point in time, there was a sizable amount of Malbec planted in the vineyard, which has long since been removed and was replaced with Merlot. This probably took place after the great frost of 1956.
The Melet family owns other vineyards including Chateau Beausejour in the Fronsac appellation. At one point in the 1990s, they retained Michel Rolland as their consultant.
Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 13.11 hectare Right Bank vineyard of Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol is planted to 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The terroir is sand with gravel soils.
The vineyard, which is quite large for the tiny region of Pomerol, is located not too far from Chateau Feytit Clinet, Chateau Bourgneuf, Chateau La Cabanne, and Chateau Clinet. The vines are placed on both sides of the A89 highway.
So you have a disparity of terroir here, making uniform ripening not always possible. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 5,000 vines per hectare.
The wine of Chateau Bel Air is vinified in traditional cement vats. The wine is aged in a combination of barrels and vats that equates to about 33% new, French oak barrels, 33% in tank, and the remainder in one-year-old barrels for about 12 months, depending on the character and style of vintage.
There is a second wine, L’Ermitage de Bel-Air. The production is quite large for Pomerol with an average of close to 5,500 cases of wine per vintage.
The best vintages of Chateau Bel Air Pomerol are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005.
When to Drink Chateau Bel Air Pomerol, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Bel Air Pomerol can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Chateau Bel Air Pomerol is usually better with at least 3-5 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Bel Air Pomerol offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 4-12 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Bel-Air is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.
Chateau Bel Air Pomerol is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, salmon, mushrooms, and pasta.
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Château Bel-Air Wine Tasting Notes
19 Vintages 49,783 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
2023
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Flowers, wet earth, and dark cherries form the core of this medium-bodied, forward, chewy Merlot wine that finishes with a touch of citrus on top of the cherries, with a nice hint of chocolate-mint in the backend. The wine is produced from 100% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2034. 89-91 Pts. 401 Views Tasted May 4, 2024 |
2022
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Elegant soft, medium-bodied, forward, fresh, plummy wine with elements of chocolate, espresso, and licorice to accompany the dark cherries, finishing with chalky tannins. Drink from 2025-2037. 90-92 Pts. 1,353 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
2021
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Medium-bodied, bright and vibrant, with a savory, chewy edge to the cocoa and espresso tinted. red fruits on the palate. Drink from 2023-2035. 87-89 1,067 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
2020
Château Bel-Air Cuvée Jean Gabriel (Lussac-St. Émilion)
Dark in color, the wine shows off its black fruit, licorice, espresso and dark cocoa character with little effort. Round, soft, lush and polished, the sweet fruits and silky textured finish hits the spot for early drinking, hedonistic pleasure. 90-92 Pts 1,368 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
2020
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Chocolate covered black cherries and plums with a truffle accent greets your nose. The wine is medium-bodied, soft, chewy, round and dark with more of those cocoa covered plums in the finish. 89-91 Pts 1,410 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
2020
Château Bel-Air Cuvée Divine (Bordeaux)
Medium-bodied, fruity, forward, soft, round, plum and chocolate-filled wine that will be ready for tasting on release. 87-89 Pts 2,315 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
2019
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Plum, licorice, truffle and underbrush aromatics, medium-body and a forward, lean, earthy, dark cherry profile on the palate are what you find here. This is an easy to like Pomerol for early drinking pleasure. 86-88 Pts 5,232 Views Tasted Jun 9, 2020 |
2018
Château Bel-Air Cuvée Jean Gabriel (Lussac-St. Émilion)
The wine is medium-bodied, soft, sweet, forward and accessible, allowing the juicy cherries and licorice to show front and center. 1,348 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021 |
2018
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Plummy with a touch of cocoa and herbs, the wine is round, soft, fruity and shows a touch of herbs and sweet black cherries in the finish. 966 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021Floral, forward, medium bodied with a licorice infused, red plum profile, there is not a lot of weight or complexity here but it will be pleasant in its youth. 86-88 Pts 1,598 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
2017
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Truffle, black cherry and just a hint of cocoa can be discerned in the nose and on the palate. The wine is medium bodied, simple and perfect for early drinking. 1,563 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
2016
Château Bel-Air Cuvée Jean Gabriel (Lussac-St. Émilion)
The wine is ripe, round, medium bodied and displays its floral and cherry character easily. 3,237 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019 |
2016
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Delicate, feminine, soft and approachable, a nice Pomerol for early drinking pleasure. 3,501 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
2015
Château Bel-Air Cuvée Jean Gabriel (Lussac-St. Émilion)
With 40% of the blend devoted to Cabernet Franc and the remaining 60 to Merlot the wine is forward, medium bodied shows its floral and cherry character easily. The soft, round wine leaves you with sweet, dark cherries, espresso and licorice. 2,976 Views Tasted Mar 12, 2018Medium/full bodied, with a fresh, floral and dark cherry character, round, polished textures and a fruity finish. The wine, a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc is a parcel selection of the estates best vines. 3,497 Views Tasted Dec 25, 2017 |
2015
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Medium-bodied, fruity and better than in previous vintages, despite that pesky herbal note in the end that leap frogs the plummy fruits and permeates the finish. 86 - 88 Pts 4,288 Views Tasted Apr 27, 2016 |
2014
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Medium bodied, and almost light, the wine is bright, fresh and on the crisp, red berry side, with earthy accents. Simple in nature, this will be best in its youth. 2,794 Views Tasted Dec 13, 2017 |
2013
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Light, polite and a bit tart with its red berries and light, dry finish. 82-84 Pts 2,367 Views Tasted Apr 25, 2014 |
2012
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Medium bodied, fresh, bright, open and with a core of red cherry fruit, there is an earthy side that comes through this wine, which will be best on the young side. 2,149 Views Tasted Feb 9, 2019 |
2011
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
From 100% Merlot planted in 6 hectares situated close to Trotanoy, the wine is aged in 20% new oak. The wine is soft textured, medium bodied and has a cherry-dominated personality. 86-88 Pts 3,158 Views Tasted Apr 21, 2012 |
2010
Château Bel-Air (Pomerol)
Quaffable Pomerol, with an earthy, black cherry personality, medium body and a dusty, cherry finish. 3,195 Views Tasted May 13, 2015 |