Château Beychevelle, 4ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2016
We were smitten with the 2015 Beychevelle, and 2016 is equally impressive. Compared to the 2015 (which we re-tasted at the Chateau), this is more refined and vibrant. Their Technical Director, Romain Ducolomb showed us around their impressive new winery. This new facility certainly allows them greater precision during wine-making and this shows in the wine, which in 2016 parades a beautiful perfume of bright ripe berries. This is not overly complex, but it is packed with bright seductive juicy fruit and there are nicely polished, supple tannins coated in red cherry fruit. A seamless, harmonious and charming Beychevelle produced from 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.
critic reviews
The 2016 Beychevelle has a broader and more complex bouquet than the '16 Branaire Ducru, well defined with red fruit, sous-bois and pencil-box aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a bitter entry, quite compact, moderate depth, but it feels a little austere and again, bitter towards the finish. I found this element in the bottle at Bordeaux Index's Ten-Year-On and then blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.
Approaching its drinking window although still with some austere edges to shake off, rose petal and cassis, mint, great St Julien typicty and balance, tobacco leaf and cigar box finish, lovely. 60% new oak for ageing.