The "Bellevue" dilemma
I occasionally purchase “Chateau Bellevue” from my local supermarket. It is a pleasant, quaffable wine with consistent taste and flavors, year in and year out. And it usually comes at a fair price. Yet, if I don’t pay attention, I might pick up the wrong one from the shelves.
The problem is that “Bellevue” (“Beautiful view” in English) is such a common name (in France) for “a property with a nice view” that there is a plethora of “Chateau Bellevue” produced from various regions of France, and, of course, with the same or similar spellings. There are at least four or five in the Bordeaux area already.
Therefore, the dilemma is that if someone asks you to buy a bottle of “Chateau Bellevue” without providing any details, and you try to search for it on the internet, you'd probably be overwhelmed by the choices and frustrated because you wouldn't know which one to choose.
Moreover, to complicate the situation, “Chateau Bellevue” or “Bellevue” has been so widely used to name chateaux, estates, and other properties you can even find it in other countries like the US and Lebanon.
Writing it in French definitely gives the name a certain "je ne sais quoi" that makes it more romantic and glamorous. 😉😁👍🍷
Here is a non-exhaustive list (in no specific order):
Château Bellevue (Bordeaux, France)
Château Bellevue (Bordeaux Supérieur, France)
Château Bellevue (Médoc, France)
Château Bellevue (Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France)
Château Bellevue (Morgon, Beaujolais, France)
Chateau de Bellevue (Val de Loire, France)
Château Bellevue (hotel, restaurant, spa, Gers, France)
Chateau Bellevue (event venue in Austin, Texas, USA)
Chateau Belle-Vue (Haut-Médoc, Bordeaux, France)
Chateau Belle-Vue (a winery in Bhamdoûn, Lebanon)
So “which ‘Chateau Bellevue’ do you buy?" you may ask.
I usually buy the one from the Médoc (3rd on the list above), produced by Lassalle Yves et Fils.
The 2020 vintage in the picture was excellent, gentle, ample, rich, balanced, and lingering. 😁👍
Cheers! Santé!
Dom
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