Château Bélair-Monange

The estate's roots reach back to Roman times, and its modern form took shape when Robert de Knollys created it in the mid-to-late 1300s. Known as Cru de Canolle during the 18th century, the property was confiscated during the French Revolution and recovered by the Canolle family in 1802. That same year, it became the first Bordeaux property to bottle all of its wine on-site, a milestone in the region's history. By 1850, the estate was ranked the leading wine of Saint-Émilion, a reputation it held into the 20th century.

• Origins traceable to Roman times; formally established in the mid-to-late 1300s by Robert de Knollys
• Known as Cru de Canolle in the 18th century
• Confiscated during the French Revolution; recovered by the Canolle family in 1802
• First Bordeaux estate to bottle wine on-site, in 1802

Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix acquired the estate in 2008 and immediately renamed it Château Bélair-Monange. The name Monange honors Anne-Adèle Monange, the grandmother of Christian Moueix. Under Edouard Moueix's current management, the family completed extensive renovations to the estate. In 2012, Bélair-Monange merged with the neighboring Château Magdelaine, consolidating the vineyards to reach 23.5 hectares in total, with 14 hectares currently under production.

• Acquired by Établissements Jean-Pierre Moueix in 2008
• Renamed to honor Anne-Adèle Monange, grandmother of Christian Moueix
• Merged with Château Magdelaine in 2012
• Extensive estate renovations completed post-acquisition

The vineyard sits on Saint-Émilion's prestigious limestone plateau, directly adjacent to Château Ausone and overlooking the Dordogne valley. Soils combine asteriated limestone on the plateau with dense blue clay on the slopes, a combination that drives both the mineral character and the age-worthiness of the wines. The Dordogne River moderates frost risk, contributing to the temperate Bordeaux climate with warm summers and mild winters.

• Asteriated limestone plateau soils with dense blue clay on the slopes
• Adjacent to Château Ausone on Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau
• Dordogne River influence helps prevent frost damage
• 23.5 hectares total; 14 hectares currently under vine

The estate is planted to 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. The grand vin, Château Bélair-Monange, is balanced and elegant with plum, black cherry, and mineral notes underpinned by firm tannic structure. Three wines are produced in total: the grand vin, the second wine Annonce de Bélair-Monange (introduced in 2014), and the third wine Haut Roc Blanquant. The style emphasizes age-worthiness alongside approachable ripe red fruit character.

• 90% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc
• Grand vin shows plum, black cherry, minerality, and firm tannins
• Second wine Annonce de Bélair-Monange launched in 2014
• Haut Roc Blanquant serves as the third wine of the estate