"Patrice Moreau started Manoir de la Bellonière in 1992, when he purchased ten hectares to plant to cabernet franc and chenin blanc. His son Alexandre joined him in 2008 and together, the father and son team now farm fully thirty hectares of vines in and around Cravant-les-Côteaux. Their la Bellonière bottling is made from vines that are thirty years of age and planted on clay and gravel soils. The wine is fermented with native yeasts and raised in cement tanks. The 2020 la Bellonière is nicely expressive aromatically out of the blocks, delivering scents of dark berries, cassis, tree bark, new leather, dark soil tones, cigar smoke and a hint of menthol in the upper register. On the palate the wine is bright, full-bodied and focused, with good depth at the core, suave, moderate tannins and fine length and grip on the complex and nicely balanced finish. This is a touch high-toned in personality, but this is hardly a demerit."