I have to admit, I picked up this bottle because of the label. I was raised in a small town in PA called Bellefonte, so of course seeing a label with the name on it was a must buy. The Chateau Bellefonte-Belcier estate dates back to the 17th century and was founded by Count Louis François de Belcier. Our tasting of this wine was over a two day period. This medium to full bodied St. Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux is from the Libournais region in France. It has a dark purple color and is a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It starts off with a big nose of black fruits, cassis, leather and dark chocolate, along with a hint of vegetables from the Cabernet Franc. The flavors were filled with black fruits, black cherries and plenty of smokey oak, along with some mushroom/earthiness flavors. The tannins were very chewy the first day but mellowed slightly on the second day. Additionally, I thought there was some extra acidity on the back end along with a slight bitterness. I would hold this for another 3-5 years. I think the 2004 has great potential and rumor has it the 2005 is exceptional. I have the 2005 vintage in the cellar and look forward to comparing the two. However, I think I will hold off for a few more years. Spring arrived with some great weather for grilling. This is a nice bottle for grilled chicken, pork or veal. The Chateau Bellefont-Belcier reatils for about $34. Wine Spectator gave the 2004 a 90 point rating.
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