| Bélair 2005 • June 2006 | BELAIR
1st Great Classified Growth since 1954
2005 Vintage
Situation and surface area:
12 hectares of which 45% are on clay-limestone slopes and 55% on the asteria limestone plateau, facing south-east/south.
Grape varieties :
80% Merlot :
- 20% on clay : giving power
- 20% on molasse : giving breed
- 40% on the limestone plateau : giving finesse
20% Cabernet Franc :
- on silt, sand and limestone
Density of plantation :
6,000 plants per hectare
Average age of the vines :
35 years
2005 vintage :
Maintenance of the vineyard based on tried and tested traditional methods.
Great care and attention shown in the treatment of vineyard diseases. Respectful of the vine’s natural balances. Ecodynamic
The almond tree flowered on March 15, quite late, due to quite a cold winter.
The bud-break in the vineyard began around March 28. After a period of heavy rain in April, the flowering began on May 29. June had a number of boiling hot days. July was mostly overcast, dry and hot, while August had many days of fine weather and some light rainfall, which helped the vines to avoid too much suffering from the severe drought conditions registered over the year as a whole (530 mm per year). The very heavy rainfall at the beginning of September brought fears that the grapes would swell and burst; however the cool nights and long sunny days brought a halt to the process and enhanced the ripening process.
This perfectly healthy year for the vine, with the exception of some late and mild cases of powdery mildew, made it possible to harvest grapes in perfect condition.
The picking of the Merlot took place between September 22 and 30 and the Cabernets on October 3.
The fermentation went ahead in good conditions with indigenous yeasts, though there was a certain slowness appearing in one or two cases.
A relatively intense extraction during the pre-fermentation stage, followed by a gentle maceration during the alcoholic phase helped to produce wines with balance and backbone.
The malo-lactic fermentation was a bit slow, but everything was finished by the end of November. The new wine was racked into barrels at the beginning of December with the first traditional fine lees racking without micro-oxygenation.
Tasters will have to be patient, as our wines will be ready to taste a little later than usual, but nature (and also craftsmanship) must always have the last word.
A fruity, aromatic side is starting to show through the young tannins. It is also fleshy and well balanced, with quite a good length on the palate.
Contact :
Château Bélair – 33330 Saint-Emilion
Tel : +33 (0) 557 247 094 – Fax : +33 (0) 557 246 711
Email : belair@chateaubelair.com
| |
|
Mirrors 
Previous
page
