Bordeaux QPR Alert...Chateau Belair (St. Emilion)

I just saw a great deal on 2005 Chateau Belair. The property is famous for being located right next door to Ausone, and having some of the most extensive underground caves in St. Emilion. It was formerly owned by the quirky Pascal Delbeck. In 2008, Delbeck sold the property to Moueix (the same owner of Latour a Pomerol about which I wrote earlier today).

For the full history of Chateau Belair, I quote from Wikipedia:

"A close neighbour of Château Ausone, Belair may also have been the property of the statesman and poet Decimus Magnus Ausonius (310-395 CE).[1] The vineyard is thought to have been planted between 1730 and 1750 during the time of Jacques Canolle, a descendant of Robert de Knollys or Knolles, who had owned the land in the 14th century.[1][2] Exiled during the French Revolution, the estate was run by the Goudichau family until the Canolles returned in 1802.

In 1916 Belair was purchased by the owner of Ausone, Edouard Dubois-Challon, and the two estates have remained continually connected.[1][2] After the death of Edouard Dubois-Challon, the estates were run by his widow Helyett Dubois-Challon, since 1975 with the assistance of Pascal Delbeck.[1] When the widow died in 2003, they were inherited by Delbeck who retained control of the estates though having sold a 30% share of the property to JP Moueix.[2] Following difficulties paying inheritance tax and other taxes, Delbeck was forced to sell the remainder of the estate to Moueix in 2008.[3]"

The wines coming out of Belair are traditional, elegant, and old school. I tasted the 2005 Belair at the domaine from barrel and loved it. At America's Wine Shop in NY, the wine can be had for a laughable $34.99. I have no affiliation with AWS, and have purchased from them once before (2005 Latour a Pomerol), and just purchased 4 Belairs myself.

AWS website is very user un-friendly, but here's the direct link to the Belair. Happy hunting.

http://www.americaswineshop.com/r/products/chateau-belair-saint-emilion-2005?id=on36kyMB

SP