At a glance

Producer

Château Bellevue

Region

Saint-Émilion Grand Cru, Bordeaux, France

Grape variety

Merlot (primary, 100% or near), possibly with trace Cabernet Franc

Wine type

Red

Body

Full-bodied and Bold

Sweetness

Dry

Typical price

$70-$110 USD

Tasting profile

Dark berry and black cherry, plum, cedar, fine tobacco, violet, subtle spice, mineral-driven, youthful but giving.

Evolution: From primary ripe fruit and floral notes toward cedar, sous-bois (forest floor), truffle, and savory herbs.

At peak: Silky, layered, seamlessly structured with melting tannins and persistent, refined length.

Structure

Acidity

Medium to medium-plus, balancing the Merlot generosity

Tannins

Firm, present, finely polished, structured for extended cellaring

Alcohol

13.5%–14.5% ABV (typical for the estate and vintage)

Aging potential

Excellent; 20+ years in good cellaring conditions

Drinking window

Peak drinking

2027 to 2054

Optimal window

2023 to 2057

Current status

Ready to drink

Current condition

Structured, rich, developing tertiary notes, tannins integrating, but still energetic

This 2015 is in its early maturity phase: tannins are integrating, fruit is still vibrant, and complexity is emerging. It will hit its peak complexity and harmony between 2023–2033, holding gracefully with proper storage beyond this window.

Food pairing

Roast lamb with rosemary, duck breast, aged ribeye, mushroom risotto, truffled game poultry, hard cheeses (Comté, aged Cheddar).

Serving

Serving temperature

16-18°C / 61-64°F

Decant

Yes (1-2 hours) — To soften tannins and open up layered aromatics; removes possible sediment.

Sustainability

Sustainability score: 6/10

Adopts lutte raisonnée (reasoned struggle, i.e., sustainable farming). Some manual vineyard work, efforts to reduce chemical inputs, careful water and soil management. Limited information on energy/water reduction and packaging initiatives.

While Château Bellevue utilizes some sustainable viticulture techniques and reduces synthetic chemical use through integrated pest management, it does not carry major third-party environmental certifications (organic, biodynamic, HVE). Limited information on carbon reduction, renewable energy, or packaging innovations. Overall, moderately sustainable for Bordeaux, but with room for improvement compared to leading certified estates.