Cé Ma Cuvée is a tribute from Michel Lydoire to his 2 daughters:
Céline - She is like the Cabernet Franc grape varietal; tough and with a lot of character.
Marina - She is like the Merlot grape varietal; pleasant and calm.
The color is deep and inky. The nose is spicy, fruity and oaky, with some nice vanilla and coconut aromas. The mouthfeel is complex, with ripe red and black fruit flavors. Some spiciness and integrated oak flavors.
This is a fun wine that can be enjoyed with any food, charbroil burgers, grilled vegetables, cheeses ... or even with dark chocolate desserts.
"Céline Lydoire focuses this wine on Bellevue's old merlot plots, blending in cabernet franc from southern exposures on gravelly soils. It's her top selection, treated to 18 months in new 400-liter oak barrels; she started making it at the behest of her French customers, who wanted a step up from her cool and refreshing Cuvée Tradition. This is just as cool, but more saturated in its distincly Castillon fruit flavor - think wild strawberries and blueberries with an earthy mineral undercurrent. That silky fruit gains its supple impression from the new oak, which boosts the textural richness. As I thought about how to score this wine, I found myself writing, "If that were from California, I'd be all over it." Absolutely. But it's also got Castillon limestone clarity. And, it's $27. Buy a case. You won't be sorry."
- Wine & Spirits Magazine (June 2019), 93 pts
Go to Chateau Bellevue Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon CéMaCuVée
"Smoked clear tar on the finish here, successful but the fruit is secondary to the smoked polish on the attack. An accomplished wine, well constructed. 70% Merlot 30% Cabernet Franc with 18 months in both American and French new oak. Winemaker Céline Lydoire is making a statement. Drink 2018-2028"
- Decanter (April 2018), 91 pts
Go to Chateau Bellevue Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon CéMaCuVée
"Also from the Castillon region and a cellar selection of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Chateau Bellevue Cé Ma Cuvée has a more modern style with some obvious oak in its cassis, licorice, and barbecue smoke aromas and flavors. It’s medium-bodied, has ripe tannins, and terrific balance, but needs a year in bottle to come together. It’s an impressive wine."
- Jeb Dunnuck (March 2019), 90 pts
Go to Chateau Bellevue Cotes de Bordeaux Castillon CéMaCuVée
Château Bellevue was founded by Michel & Catherine Lydoire in 1998, with the estate’s oldest vines dating to the 1960's. To access the estate, you embark on a drive through ...
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