Château Bélair-Monange

Identity

Château Bélair-Monange is located in the commune of Saint-Émilion. It is owned by Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix, with Édouard Moueix serving as the estate's key figure.

History and philosophy

The origins of Château Bélair-Monange date back to Roman times, with written records appearing as early as the 14th century. As early as 1691, the estate was renowned for its “vins de cru” and sought after for export. In 1850, it was ranked as the leading wine of Saint-Émilion by Cocks & Feret.

In 2008, Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix acquired the property, then known as Château Bélair. The estate was renamed Château Bélair-Monange in tribute to Anne-Adèle Monange, mother of Jean-Pierre Moueix and the first woman of the family to settle in Saint-Émilion in 1931. Following the acquisition, a comprehensive renovation of the vineyard, cellars, underground limestone quarries, and the château was undertaken. Starting with the 2012 vintage, the estate incorporated the 11 hectares of Château Magdelaine. A new cellar was built in 2023.

Appellations

Château Bélair-Monange produces wines under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation.

Practical information

Château Bélair-Monange is located at 386 Rte de la Côte de la Jeune, 33330 SAINT-EMILION. For further information, the estate can be contacted by telephone on 05 57 51 78 96 or by email at info@jpmoueix.com. The fax number is 05 57 51 79 79.

The estate does not offer cellar-door sales, tastings, or guest rooms.

Find out more

Official estate website

The vineyard (terroir)

The vineyard of Château Bélair-Monange covers 26 hectares. It is situated at the highest point of the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion. The soils consist of limestone on the plateau and clay-limestone on the slopes (côtes), along with molasse and silt deposits. The blue clay of the slopes imparts intensity and elegance, while the limestone parcels on the plateau contribute freshness and minerality to the wines.

The grape varieties planted are predominantly Merlot (85%) and Cabernet Franc (15%). The average age of the vines is 25 years, although certain Cabernet Franc vines date back to 1956. Planting density is 6,500 vines per hectare. The vines are single Guyot pruned, and traditional four-way ploughing (façons) is carried out for natural weed management. Yields are around 30 hl/ha. Harvesting is carried out by hand, with grape sorting on an optical sorting table.

Flagship cuvées

The estate produces the grand vin Château Bélair-Monange. A second wine, Annonce de Bélair-Monange, is also crafted. For the main cuvée, the dominant grape variety is Merlot, complemented by Cabernet Franc.

Vinification and ageing

Vinification takes place in stainless steel and concrete vats, respecting the purity of the fruit without over-extraction. The wines are aged in oak barrels, using 50% new oak and 50% one-wine barrels and older.