Domaine de Bellevue tasting organised by Urbanologie and hosted by WineChap

Domaine de Bellevue is a renaissance vineyard located above the banks of the River Garonne in the Bordeaux region of France. Originally classified as a vineyard in 1647, Bellevue ceased production in the early 1960s and remained uncultivated until the turn of the century. Jointly owned by Jean-Francois Boras and Tim Griffiths, it has been restored and cultivated under the guidance of Kees Van Leeuwen (formerly the technical director of Cheval Blanc) and now produces some 8,000 bottles a year and is only available to members of Le Grand Société.

During a prestigious blind tasting by a panel of experts, its first vintage (2005) outshone Right Bank legends Cheval Blanc and Ausone and came within a single point of the four 1st Growths in the line-up.

• 2006 Domaine de Bellevue Le Grand Cuvée

  France, Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers, Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux

  Open for three hours before serving. 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon (unusual for Right Bank). Intense cassis nose. Deep savoury palate, thick but fine tannins.

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• 2011 Frog's Leap Merlot

  USA, California, Napa Valley, Rutherford

  Darker, green leaves, cool earth. Much plusher, sweeter fruit on the palate, with dark green leaves and earth on the sides of the tongue.

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• 2006 Castello di Bolgheri Bolgheri Superiore

  Italy, Tuscany, Bolgheri, Bolgheri Superiore

  Sweeter, deeper, darker, longer. 50% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon.

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• 2009 Domaine de Bellevue Le Grand Cuvée

  France, Bordeaux, Entre-Deux-Mers, Cadillac Côtes de Bordeaux

  Easily the pick of the bunch. Everything more harmonious and integrated. Already wonderful, and clearly a long long life ahead.

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