Chateau Bel-Air Pomerol 1985

Why We Love It

Chateau Bel-Air is a boutique winery that has been family-owned since 1914. Sitting in the beautiful heart of Pomerol, not far from St. Emillion, it has been run by the family matriarchs for three generations. 

The winery grows 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, meaning very Merlot-heavy blends. That high level of Merlot makes this 1985 a particularly great find, as the grape excelled in the 1985 vintage.

Pomerol as a whole is regarded as the best appellation of the 1985 Bordeaux harvest due to its Merlot vines thriving in that year’s climate, whereas Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc struggled to ripen in many places. 

Wines from this year are more elegant than powerful and were seen as having wonderful ageing potential, with some comparing 1985 to the longevity of the famed 1953 vintage. 

Details

Capsule Status: Intact
Label Quality: Good with some wine staining
Ullage: Into neck

Important Notes on Cabinet Wines

Many of the wines we sell in the Cabinet are from old vintages. Ageing can have truly wonderful effects on wine. Those effects are influenced by a range of factors, both within and outside the bottle, meaning two bottles from the same vintage may have different profiles. If you are new to older wines—and if so, welcome!—please keep in mind that you may encounter a range of flavours and aromas not found in younger wines.