Château Bel Air 2005

Château Bel-Air is located in Saint-Estèphe.

Located in the north of the Haut-Médoc, Saint-Estèphe's vineyards stand on a plateau that looks over the Gironde river. A simple stream is all that separates the appellation from Pauillac. Saint-Estèphe is the northernmost of the six ¿communal¿ appellations. Three properties have been a part of its history: Calon-Ségur (third growth), Cos d'Estournel and Montrose (both second growths). The gravelly soil contains slightly more clay than the terroirs in the south Médoc, giving the wines a solid character. The average altitude of forty metres is also reflected in the wines' style. Saint-Estèphe's wines have a particular earthy character, due to the soil, with the grapes' acidity generally higher than in the other Médoc appellations; they also have more intense colours and greater richness in terms of tannins. Very powerful, they have an excellent capacity to age.