Château Bellevue

Château Bellevue sits on one of Saint-Émilion's most historically layered sites. Evidence of Roman cultivation remains visible on the property, and a 17th-century manor house was constructed on the grounds of a former Carthusian monastery. The estate remained in single-family ownership from 1642 to 1938, when the de Coninck and Pradel de Lavaux families purchased it. A new chapter began in 2000 when Nicolas Thienpont and Stéphane Derenoncourt assumed responsibility for vinification, followed by Hubert de Boüard of Château Angélus acquiring a 50% stake in 2007 and initiating major renovations. In 2022, the estate was divided equally, with 3 hectares passing to Château Angélus and the remaining 3 hectares retained by the Pradel de Lavaux family.

• Roman-era cultivation remains visible on the property today
• 17th-century manor built on the site of a Carthusian monastery
• Family ownership held continuously from 1642 to 1938
• Estate divided between two ownership groups in 2022

The vineyard occupies 3 hectares on south and southwest-facing slopes and plateau at 75 meters elevation within the Saint-Émilion appellation. Soils shift meaningfully across the site: marine limestone rich in magnesium and iron dominates the upper slopes, transitioning to sandy colluvial deposits toward the lower sections. This variation contributes textural complexity to the wine. The Atlantic and maritime climate moderates temperatures and supports consistent ripening. Château Bellevue has held organic certification since 2009, reflecting a long-standing commitment to sustainable farming.

• 75 meters elevation with south and southwest aspect
• Marine limestone with magnesium and iron at slope top
• Sandy colluvial soils on lower sections of the vineyard
• Certified organic since 2009

Château Bellevue produces a single red wine from 100% Merlot, a variety ideally suited to the clay-limestone soils of the Right Bank. Stéphane Derenoncourt, one of Bordeaux's most respected consulting oenologists, has shaped the wine's direction since 2000. The result is an elegant, medium to full-bodied red with refined tannins and a harmonious structure. Black cherries, plums, and blueberries provide the fruit core, with a mineral thread running through the palate that reflects the iron-rich limestone beneath the vines.

• 100% Merlot across the entire vineyard
• Stéphane Derenoncourt consulting since 2000
• Flavor profile centers on black cherry, plum, blueberry, and minerality
• Style described as elegant with refined tannins and harmonious balance

Château Bellevue holds Grand Cru Classé status within the Saint-Émilion classification, a system that undergoes periodic revision unlike the fixed 1855 Médoc classification. The estate experienced a setback in 2006 when it was demoted to Grand Cru, only to be reinstated as Grand Cru Classé in 2008. This two-year reclassification episode underscores both the scrutiny applied within the Saint-Émilion system and the estate's resilience in meeting the required standards. The involvement of Hubert de Boüard and the renovation program launched in 2007 coincided with and supported this return to classified status.