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- 2016 Bellevue Mondotte, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
$BELM
2016 Bellevue Mondotte, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Bottle size (ML)
Current price
$521
Start Your Wine Collection with 2016 Bellevue Mondotte, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru
Begin your portfolio with a prestigious wine that has a history of growth.- Enjoy fully managed, secure storage facilities with insurance coverage.
- Get expert advice on when to hold and when to sell.
Critics Scores
Wine Spectator
A very polished and frankly ripe style, with caressing cassis and creamed raspberry notes cruising through, infused with anise and warm licorice flavors that drape across the finish. Despite the obvious style, this has density without coming off as heavy, with a very long finish that lets the fruit sing. Will have fans for sure. Best from 2021 through 2035.
James Suckling
This almost pure merlot shows a solid core of dark berries and a hint of dark chocolate. Full-bodied, ripe and round with compact tannins. Extremely long and intentional. Gorgeous finish. Drink after 2025.
Jeb Dunnuck
One of the standouts from the Right Bank is the 2016 Bellevue Mondotte, a powerful, full-bodied, structured effort that offers incredible minerality in its blackcurrant, graphite, new leather and burning ember-like aromas and flavors. A blend of 90 Merlot, 5 Cabernet Franc, and 5 Cabernet Sauvignon, from tiny yields and brought up all in new oak, it has remarkable purity and freshness, and is locked and loaded on the palate. Give this monument in the making 4-5 years of bottle age and it will cruise for 2-3 decades in cold cellars. Rating: 98+
Wine Enthusiast
The six-acre vineyard sits on the plateau of Saint-Émilion. Juicy acidity and fresh black fruits give this wine an immediately attractive character. It is enhanced by perfumed tannins: not dry, almost sweet and certainly rich. Drink this wine from 2024.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep purple-black, the 2016 Bellevue Mondotte has a dark, seductive, opulent nose of star anise, cumin seed, dried roses, incense and cedar chest over a core of plum preserves, baked blueberries, dates and Christmas cake plus hints of unsmoked cigars and tapenade. The full-bodied palate is a behemoth of fruit with a rock-solid frame to match, featuring firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long and very spicy. Rating: 96+
Region Summary
Located in southwest France, Bordeaux is home to some of the most famous, expensive, and sought-after wines in the world. Even in an increasingly competitive industry, the region reigns supreme with the largest market share by value. With everything from classic red blends to sumptuous whites, it’s easy to see why Bordeaux is the epicenter of the fine wine universe.
Why We're Investing
Bordeaux has long set the market for fine wine. To understand why, we need to take a journey back in time. In 1855, Bordeaux's Syndicate of Courtier created a first-of-its-kind wine classification system at the behest of Napolean III, the emperor of France. The courtiers divided châteaux into five tiers to help people understand which wineries were worth a splurge (first and second growths) and which ones were just okay (fifth growths). Despite its flaws, of which there are several, this historical ranking system is still in use today. The 1855 Bordeaux Classification fostered near-mythic reputations around first and second growth producers. As a result, these brands trade at a premium and do not endure the same fluctuations in demand as other lower-tier producers. More importantly, the Bordeaux Classification is borderline permanent for châteaux on the Left Bank. Since its inception, only two changes have been made. The permanence creates a rigid hierarchy where châteaux are valued by their name and classification. Even if an estate changes ownership, merges with another winery, or makes better wine, it will still be judged primarily on its name and classification. By comparison, wines in Burgundy are evaluated on their vineyards instead of the name on the label. Here’s another way to think about it: the most revered châteaux today are largely the same as the ones in 1855. For buyers, that means one thing: predictability. They can rely on steady performance from Left Bank châteaux over the long run, with ups or downs depending on the vintage. The Right Bank uses a different classification system that is a little less permanent, but the benefits for top estates are no less impactful. The one wild card is the weather. For the most part, Bordeaux has a mild maritime climate. Summers rarely exceed 86°F (30°C), and winters seldom dip below freezing. However, frost and mildew can topple the grape cart. Bordeaux’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean means winter air may become trapped in the vineyards and decimate a harvest. Small annual weather differences contribute to significant vintage variations, making Bordeaux a fascinating region to follow. Case and point: Bordeaux’s en primeur campaign, also known as wine futures. Each year, people can invest in a wine vintage while it is still in the barrel. The campaign gives châteaux an influx of capital and wine enthusiasts the possibility of buying wine below market value. Because the château names and classifications remain static, people often turn to the vintage quality and critic scores to determine investment-worthiness. It should come as no surprise that excellent vintages like 2008 and 2019 have handsomely rewarded those who invested en primeur.
What's the Latest
Once upon a time, Bordeaux had a stranglehold on the wine industry. According to Liv-ex, it accounted for more than 96 of the wine traded by value on the secondary market. That stranglehold has loosened in recent years. In 2021, Bordeaux’s trade share slipped below 40 for the first time. The following year, it hit 32. Tuscany and Napa Valley have gained ground in that time. However, Burgundy remains the biggest threat to Bordeaux’s crown, eclipsing Bordeaux in price performance and the number of unique wines traded per year. Don’t feel too bad for Bordeaux. It’s still thriving at auctions. In March 2019, a seven-hour auction of Château Lafite Rothschild brought in $7.86 million. A few days later, bottles of Bordeaux and Burgundy wines sold for $30 million, setting the record for the most expensive private wine collection. That’s not all. Demand is growing well beyond its biggest and brightest names. In 2010, first growths made up 61.9 of Bordeaux’s total market share. As of 2022, that number has dropped to 32.6. In that time, the number of Bordeaux wines traded on the secondary market has doubled, allowing lower-tier Bordeaux wines with attractive prices to share in the spotlight.
Looking Forward
Even amid economic headwinds, Bordeaux delivers exactly what consumers want - high-quality wines, sufficient volume, and (mostly) reasonable prices. While the region wouldn’t deliver instant returns aside from a fortuitous en primeur campaign, top tier châteaux have a long track record of enriching patient collectors. Any portfolio with Bordeaux can expect an unmatched combination of liquidity, brand strength, and quality. The region is ideal for anyone looking to minimize risk over the long term. Even with competitors coming for its throne, Bordeaux should maintain its status as a portfolio cornerstone for years to come.