Bel Air and Supérieur

Château Bel-Air Supérieur is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes. This esteemed red wine is produced by Château Bel Air, a winery within the Lussac-St. Emilion appellation near Bordeaux, France. The winery has been in the same family for almost a century, and current owner Jean-Noël Roi has been at the helm since the late 1970s. Grapes grown at the estate vineyard are Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.

From vintage to vintage, there is consistent quality with this wine that shows nice balance, refined tannins, and aromas of red berries and vanilla. Bordeaux Supérieur also refers to an classification that reaches across many regions in Bordeaux. These wines tend to cost less than others in a Bordeaux winery’s portfolio.

At retail this is a value wine, selling for under $13 a bottle; however, the price can climb at auction.

Quick Facts

• A bottle of the 2007 Château Bel-Air Supérieur recently listed for a starting price of $33 at auction, more than double its retail value
• Aging this wine through 2020 is recommended to further develop its nuances
• A sister wine to consider trying is the Cuvée Jean Gabriel, which debuted in 1998