Dark-colored and very spicy, with meat, dark fruits and cigar box aromas. Full-bodied, with loads of fruit and masses of new wood. Impresses with its opulence and structure. Needs time in the bottle. Best after 2013. WS
A blend of 90% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon (similar to Pavie-Decesse). There are only 4,500 bottles of this elixir. While not as complex or delineated as Pavie or Pavie-Decesse, it is opulent, even voluptuous, with a heady perfume of ink, black fruits, truffles, and lead pencil shavings. Full-bodied, expansive, and velvety-textured, this huge, sweet, chewy St.-Emilion boasts great concentration and texture. Drink it during its first 15-18 years of life, although my instincts suggest it will live a lot longer. RP
$ 2,750
Bellevue Mondotte St Emilion Grand Cru 2006
RP
95₊
WS
93
This tiny, 5-acre vineyard with nearly 50-year old vines produces only 4,000 bottles from a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The broodingly tannic, backward 2006 is remarkably concentrated, pure, and deep. It is an amazing tour de force in winemaking, but like nearly all the Perse 2006s, it is a massively built vin de garde with no compromises meant for serious connoisseurs and long-term cellaring. Forget it for 7-8 years, and drink it over the following 25-30. RP
$ 3,300
Bellevue Mondotte St Emilion Grand Cru 2008
RP
95₊
An extraordinary effort in this vintage, this 2008 was made from lower yields than the 2010 (the 2008's equaled 20 hectoliters per hectare) and is a blend of 90% Merlot and equal parts Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon that came in at 14% natural alcohol. Michel Rolland has been the consultant for all the Perse estates since their acquisition, and the 2008's fruit was harvested very late, October 20. The result is a backward, dense purple-colored wine revealing a crushed rock-like liqueur along with highly extracted, massive flavors of black currants, sweet cherries, licorice and toast. This full-bodied effort requires 5-6 years of bottle age and should last for 25-30 years. RP