Château Bel-Air Jean et Gabriel

Château Bel-Air has been under the ownership of the Roi family since the late 19th century. Jean Noël Roi took over the management of the estate in 1978, following more than a century of family lineage at the property. Today, the estate is managed by the fifth generation of the family, brothers Antoine and Guillaume Roi. Antoine manages the technical aspects of winemaking and vineyard management, while Guillaume handles the commercial and international promotion of the wines.

The estate comprises 21 hectares of vineyards situated on a plateau in the Lussac-Saint-Émilion appellation. The terroir is characterized by blue clay and silica gravel over a subsoil rich in iron oxide, often referred to as crasse de fer. The prestige Jean et Gabriel cuvée is sourced from a specific five hectare selection of the oldest vines, which average 40 years of age. Since 2014, the family has worked with consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt to refine their winemaking process, which includes natural fermentation in small temperature controlled concrete vats and aging for 18 months in French oak barrels.

Château Bel-Air is best known for its prestige bottling, Cuvée Jean et Gabriel, which was first produced in 1998 as a tribute to the family's ancestors. Unlike the estate's primary grand vin, this cuvée typically consists of an equal blend of 50 percent Merlot and 50 percent Cabernet Franc. The wine has gained a reputation for delivering high quality and structural depth that rivals more expensive labels from the Right Bank. It is frequently recognized by critics for its polished tannins and aging potential, often securing scores in the 90 to 93 point range.