Clos Bel-Air Montagne-Saint-Émilion 2016

Here’s a nicely appointed maturing merlot-cab franc blend from a St. Emilion satellite appellation, where better value is often found. It has [a] fairly ripe nose of plum and blackberry with considerable chocolaty oak and classic Bordeaux cedary spice. It is medium weight, fairly plush yet even across the mid-palate, with some alcohol heat. Tannins are firm and drying but not austere. I would age this another year or two. Would it be in my cellar? Yes. Score – 90. (David Lawrason, winealign.com, July 14, 2020)