Château Bel-Air

Château Bel-Air is a family-owned estate located in the Lussac Saint-Émilion appellation of Bordeaux. The Roi family has been established in the heart of this region since the 19th century, with Jean-Noël Roi taking over management of the property in 1978. The estate is currently led by the fifth generation of the family, represented by Antoine Roi, who serves as the winemaker and technical manager, and his brother Guillaume, who handles marketing and international sales. In 1998, the family introduced the prestige cuvée Jean & Gabriel as a tribute to Jean-Noël's father and grandfather.

The estate encompasses 30 hectares in a single block, with 21 hectares dedicated to vine cultivation. The vineyards are situated on a wide plateau characterized by deep blue clay soils mixed with silica gravel and a subsoil containing iron pan. While the standard estate wines typically feature a majority of Merlot, the Jean & Gabriel cuvée is sourced from a specific five-hectare parcel of old vines and consists of an equal 50 percent blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. This composition is intended to balance the lush fruit of the Merlot with the structural elegance and aromatic freshness of the Cabernet Franc. Since 2014, the family has worked with consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt to refine viticultural practices and winemaking precision. The property also maintains a Level 3 High Environmental Value certification.

Winemaking for the Jean & Gabriel bottling involves traditional techniques, including harvesting at peak ripeness and temperature-controlled fermentation in a combination of stainless steel and concrete tanks. The prestige cuvée undergoes a long vatting period of several weeks to extract structure and color before being aged for 18 to 20 months in French oak barrels. While the estate's primary red wine uses a mix of new and used wood, the Jean & Gabriel is traditionally matured in 100 percent new oak to support its concentrated fruit profile. This flagship label has established a reputation for offering high quality and complexity within the Lussac Saint-Émilion satellite appellation. It is recognized by critics for its refined tannic structure and savory finish, often sitting among the top-rated wines of its commune.