Bel Air Marquis D'Aligre 2012

Bel Air Marquis d'Aligre 2012 is a wine that needs time. Forget last-minute opening: several hours of aeration, with the bottle decanted, are essential to reveal the full complexity of this exceptional Margaux.

As the wine opens up, dark fruits gradually give way to notes of undergrowth, cedar, blond tobacco, sweet spices, and dried leaves. Nothing is overtly demonstrative. Everything is built with nuance, showcasing that absolutely unique mouthfeel for which Jean-Pierre Boyer is renowned. The tannins are remarkably silky, the texture seems to glide across the palate, while the freshness carries the wine to a finish of great distinction.

Bel Air Marquis d'Aligre 2012 never seeks to impress with its power. It captivates with its balance, its depth, and that almost timeless elegance reminiscent of the great Margaux wines of past decades. A bottle that reminds us that a great Bordeaux is, above all, a wine of patience.

Estate
Château Bel Air Marquis d'Aligre

Winemaker
Jean-Pierre Boyer

Cuvée
Margaux

Vintage
2012

Appellation
AOC Margaux

Region
Bordeaux

Grape Varieties
Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot

Terroir
Light gravel on gravelly hilltops of Margaux

Cultivation
Traditional viticulture, manual harvesting, indigenous yeasts

Aging
Fermentation in concrete vats for approximately 5 weeks. Aged for several months in vats, followed by 5 to 6 months in old barrels with no new wood, then nearly 2 years in vats.

Style
A Margaux with great aging potential, subtle, silky, and profoundly elegant, to be opened at least 6 hours before serving.