Château de Bellet - Cuvée Baron G. rouge 2017

With intense, complex black fruit, the aromatic profile—both subtle and assertive—unfolds with notes of Amarone cherry, bergamot, black tea, and peppery spices. A handsome Italian-style wine, lively and expressive, with just the right amount of freshness carried by dense, refined tannins.

Located on the Séoules hill, in the hills above Nice at an elevation of nearly 300 meters, the terraced vineyard benefits from sea mist that tempers the summer heat. After producing 47 vintages and establishing the renown and reputation of the Bellet appellation, Ghislain de Charnacé sold his 12-hectare vineyard in 2014 to the real estate management company La Française REM (which owns other vineyards). Considerable resources have been devoted to restructuring the vineyard, under the leadership—since the summer of 2018—of Jean de Laître, a talented winemaking expert who is also active in the Bordeaux region. An ultra-functional winery at the foot of the old chapel now allows for winemaking that is closely attuned to the terroir. A new style is emerging, with the range reorganized into three tiers (entry-level wines, terroir wines, and the exceptional “agnès” cuvées), promising a bright future for this historic estate. The latest vintages reflect this positive shift.

This estate was created in 2012 through the merger of two properties, Château de Bellet and Les Coteaux de Bellet, which were acquired by the French company REM. The vineyard covers 10 hectares.