Château Beychevelle, 4ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2010
Unlike many of the full-throttle Cabernet based wines in St Julien, Beychevelle has significant Merlot plantings. As a result, this is one of the most fragrant, feminine St Juliens in 2010. High toned mineral notes, cut flowers and mulberry fruit; the palate is packed with engaging juicy fruit, cherry liqueur, wave after wave of sweet berry fruit, cool blackcurrants, dark cherries and liquorice. This is utterly seductive, sumptuous and beautifully balanced. 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
critic reviews
This 2010 just nudges the 2009 for me in terms of future potential if you are looking to cellar over the long term. Has depth and siky tannins, layers of bitter black chocolate, tea, cocoa bean, espresso, salted cracker, rosemary, sage, anis, and aromatics of crushed roses as it opens. Great quality, a ton of complexity. 60% new oak for ageing, September 27 to October 13 for harvest.
The 2010 Beychevelle has much more lift and black fruit on the nose compared directly with the 2009. Licorice and violet scents, especially the former, emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a lightly spiced entry. Huge structure, dense and tannic, powerful with an almost burly finish. You might argue that this lacks a bit of finesse, but it has a sense of audacity uncommon in this Saint-Julien. Tasted at the Beychevelle vertical at the property.
The 2010 Beychevelle is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it bursts with bold notes of cigar box, dusty soil, dried mulberries, and fruitcake, plus hints of star anise, Oolong tea, and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and densely packed with mature, savory flavors, the palate has a firm, chewy texture with soft acidity and a long if slightly grippy / hard finish. It seems to be maturing more quickly than the 2009.
Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Beychevelle comes roaring out of the glass with bombastic scents of baked blackcurrants, plum preserves and Black Forest cake plus touches of potpourri, cedar chest and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has evolved black fruit flavors and a firm, chewy texture, finishing with nice freshness and a spicy kick.