Review: Chateau Bellet 2005 Baron G Blanc
- vinterest
- Aug 28, 2014
- 2 min read
The low-down: Chateau Bellet resides within the tiny AOC of Bellet (only 47 ha under vine) in the Cote d'Azur, France. Bellet is located entirely within the boundaries of the City of Nice making it the only urban AOC in France. Among other distinctions, the wine was served at the royal wedding of Prince Albert II and Charlene of Monaco - and no she didn't run away because of this wine. 95% of the blend is rolle, a rare grape grown only within the South of France and northern Italy, with 5% chardonnay.
Together with my drinking partners, A and T, we visited the chateau in the hills overlooking Nice one sunny Autumn late afternoon in October 2013 and had the pleasure of a one-on-one tasting of their current vintages.
Turns out there was plenty of action going on behind the scenes. The Charnace family have owned and operated the vineyard for centuries and are currently headed by Baron Ghislain de Charnace whom this cuvee is named after. The family recently sold the land (but not the operations) to a real estate conglomerate, who also acquired its neighbouring vineyard Coteaux Bellet for its vines... the good news is that Chateau Bellet will be able to double its production, the bad is that Coteaux Bellet will cease to exist after 2013. Keep hold of any Coteaux Bellet that you can find!
Chateau Bellet is only sold locally ... so get your behind over to the South of France to taste this rare delight!
T received this 2005 vintage as a gift. While the nominal drinking age is 5 to 7 years the rolle grape has ageing potential.
The take: On appearance, highly transparent and light with a strong, golden, lemony, yellow color. Little legs. On the nose, grapefruit, corn and chives. On the attack, very well balanced. Acidity and bitterness are present but not over the top - certainly more character and sharper than the 2011. With time, as smooth as melted butter, with hints of apple.
In closing: A rich, multi-faceted and well balanced wine - with enough sharp acidity (after 9 years in the bottle) to make it interesting!
Rating: 9 out of 10.
Compare with: Chateau Bellet 2011 Cuvee Baron G Blanc.
Fact corner:
Country: France
Region: Bellet (AOC)
Producer: Chateau Bellet
Vintage: 2005
Grape: Rolle, Chardonnay
Alcohol content: 12.5%
Serving temperature: n/a
Price range: Premium
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