Château BELLEVUE 2001

Description

Robert Parker 88 points www.robertparker.com
This fabulously situated, south-facing vineyard counts as its neighbors Beau-Sejour-Becot, Beausejour-Duffau, and Angelus. While the 2001 is well-below the quality of the brilliant 2000, it exhibits a deep ruby/purple color in addition to an elegant nose of crushed rocks, black cherries, herbs, and earth. There is plenty of finesse and elegance, but it is short on texture, length, and overall concentration. It is a very good effort, although more restrained and elegant than the blockbuster 2000.

Stephen Tanzer 88-90 points www.vinous.com
Medium ruby. Cool aromas of blackberry, violet, licorice and mocha. Light and lively in the mouth, with good density and sound framing acidity. Not hugely ripe but rather stylish and bright. Tannins spread out on the persistent, fresh finish. The crop level in these vines, located on what director Nicolas Thienpont describes as « soft calcaire » between Beausejour-Becot and Angelus, was just 30 hectoliters per hectare.

Jean-Marc Quarin 88 points www.quarin.com
Rouge. Bordeaux. Intensité moyenne à bonne. Net. Intensité moyenne. Discret. Floral. Fruité. Fin. Réglissé. Violette. Vin fin avant tout, offrant un corps moyen mais un superbe goût de violette et des tanins fins et aromatiques en finale. Il est délicieux. Dommage qu’il ne soit pas plus corpulent.