Learn everything about Chateau Bel Air la Royere Cotes de Blaye with wine tasting notes, wine and food pairing tips, a history of the property, information the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important Bordeaux estates, please see, Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Chateau Bel-Air la Royere History, Overview
Chateau Bel Air la Royere was purchased in 1992 by the Charentais family. Headed by Xavier Loriaud and Corinne Chevrier Loriaud, after their initial purchase, they sold their grapes in bulk for a few years before making the wine, bottling and selling it on their own. 1995 marked the debut vintage for their new wine of Chateau Bel Air la Royere.
Chateau Bel-Air la Royere, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
Chateau Bel Air la Royere has 22 hectares of vines. The vineyards are planted to 55% Merlot and 45% Malbec. The terroir is clay and limestone soils. They began planting more Malbec in the Chateau Bel Air la Royere vineyard at the same time they began to produce the wine on their own in 1995.
However, what makes the vineyards of Bel Air la Royere unique is their old vine Malbec, some of which dates back just after World War 2 in 1947. About half of the vineyard is owned by the Chateau Bel-Air la Royere Slightly less than half the vineyard is owned by the Loriaud family.
The other vines used to produce their wine are leased from other growers. The vines are fairly well dispersed in the Cotes de Blaye region. Chateau Bel Air la Royere maintains one of the highest percentages of Malbec in their vineyards in all of Bordeaux.
The wine of Chateau Bel Air la Royere is vinified in temperature controlled, stainless steel vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in barrel. The wine is then aged on its lees for the first several months in an average of 80% new, French oak barrels for up to 18 months before bottling.
Chateau Bel Air la Royere White Wine
Chateau Bel Air la Royere also produces a small amount of white Bordeaux wine from a 1 hectare parcel of vines in limestone and clay soils that is planted to 100% Sauvignon Blanc. The wine is aged in French oak barrels for 9 months prior to bottling.
In addition, the Charentais family produce two additional wines at their Cotes de Bordeaux property; L’Esprit de Bel-Air la Royere from 80% Merlot, 10% Malbec and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon and Gourmandise Bel Air de Royere which is produced from 100% Merlot.
The best vintages of Chateau Bel Air la Royere are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005.
When to Drink Chateau Bel Air la Royere, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Bel Air la Royere is better with at least 2-3 years of aging in good vintages. Young vintages can be decanted for up to 1 hour, helping the wine soften to help develop the aromatic character.
Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Bel Air la Royere offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 2-9 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Chateau Bel-Air la Royere with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Chateau Bel-Air la Royere 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 la Royere is best paired with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised and grilled dishes. Chateau Bel-Air la Royere is also good when matched with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms and pasta.
Chateau Bel Air la Royere is another really solid example of a Bordeaux value wine with that does not cost much, displays nice character and is drinkable on release.
Château Bel Air la Royère Wine Tasting Notes
8 Vintages 16,810 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
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2016
Château Bel Air la Royère (Blaye)
Medium bodied, forward, spicy, dark red fruits, earth and thyme, with a juicy finish is what you find here. What makes this wine unique is the large portion of Malbec in the blend, that is often close to 50%. 1,890 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
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2015
Château Bel Air la Royère (Blaye)
While the wine is somewhat lacking in finesse, it makes up for it with its open, ripe, sweet, earthy, dark fruit, spice and accessible personality. What makes this wine unique is the large portion of Malbec in the blend, that is often close to 50%. 88-90 Pts 1,992 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2016 |
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2014
Château Bel Air la Royère (Blaye)
Spicy, earthy, forward, medium/full bodied, charmer with loads of peppery, sweet, dark, red berries. 1,861 Views Tasted Jan 4, 2018 |
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2012
Château Bel Air la Royère (Blaye)
While the wine is somewhat lacking in finesse, it makes up for it with its open, ripe, sweet, earthy, dark fruit, spice and accessible personality. What makes this wine unique is the large portion of Malbec in the blend, that is often close to 50%. 1,932 Views Tasted Apr 25, 2016 |
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2011
Château Bel Air la Royère (Blaye)
Blending 55% Merlot and 45% Malbec, the wine is inky, floral, spicy and fresh with licorice and ripe blackberries. 86-88 Pts 2,337 Views Tasted Apr 20, 2012 |
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2010
Château Bel Air la Royère (Blaye)
Forward, fruit filled, round, uncomplicated and tasty, this Bordeaux value wine shows a lot of character for the money. 1,420 Views Tasted Mar 13, 2014 |
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2009
Château Bel Air la Royère (Blaye)
Another great example of a solid Bordeaux value wine. Drink this over the next few years to get most out of its fresh, fleshy, supple, earthy, black cherry and licorice filled character. 2,131 Views Tasted Aug 4, 2013 |
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2005
Château Bel Air la Royère (Blaye)
This fully mature, medium bodied, round textured wine, with its sweet, earthy, dark red fruits, spice, licorice, smoke and tobacco characteristics needs to be drunk up over the next few years before the fruit slides away. This is an interesting wine as it has one of the highest percentages of old vine Malbec in Bordeaux with about 45% of it in the blend. 3,247 Views Tasted Sep 24, 2016 |
