Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol Bordeaux, Complete Guide

Learn everything about Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol with wine tasting notes and wine with food pairings. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards and winemaking. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol History, Overview

Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol is one of the lesser-known estates in Pomerol, even though it dates back to at least the late 1800s. Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol is owned by the Melet family under the name of Vignobles Sudrat Melet, which combines the names of the current owner with the family name that first purchased Chateau Bel-Air in 1914, the Sudrat family. At the time of the purchase in 1914, the estate was known as Chateau Sudrat-Boussaton.

At one point in time, there was a sizable amount of Malbec planted in the vineyard, which has long since been removed and was replaced with Merlot. This probably took place after the great frost of 1956.

The Melet family owns other vineyards including Chateau Beausejour in the Fronsac appellation. At one point in the 1990s, they retained Michel Rolland as their consultant.

Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol Vineyards, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking

The 13.11 hectare Right Bank vineyard of Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol is planted to 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. The terroir is sand with gravel soils.

The vineyard, which is quite large for the tiny region of Pomerol, is located not too far from Chateau Feytit Clinet, Chateau Bourgneuf, Chateau La Cabanne, and Chateau Clinet. The vines are placed on both sides of the A89 highway.

So you have a disparity of terroir here, making uniform ripening not always possible. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 5,000 vines per hectare.

The wine of Chateau Bel Air is vinified in traditional cement vats. The wine is aged in a combination of barrels and vats that equates to about 33% new, French oak barrels, 33% in tank, and the remainder in one-year-old barrels for about 12 months, depending on the character and style of vintage.

There is a second wine, L’Ermitage de Bel-Air. The production is quite large for Pomerol with an average of close to 5,500 cases of wine per vintage.

The best vintages of Chateau Bel Air Pomerol are: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012, 2010, 2009 and 2005.

When to Drink Chateau Bel Air Pomerol, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Bel Air Pomerol can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Bel Air Pomerol is usually better with at least 3-5 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Bel Air Pomerol offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 4-12 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Bel-Air is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes.

Chateau Bel Air Pomerol is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, salmon, mushrooms, and pasta.

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