chateau beychevelle 4eme cru classe st julien

Château Beychevelle, 4ème Cru Classé, St Julien,

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Château Beychevelle, 4ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2018

Justerini & Brooks Tasting note

Château Beychevelle, 4ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2018

Romain Ducolomb is doing a wonderful job at Beychevelle. Superb efforts in 2015, 2016 and 2017 have been followed up with another stellar wine in 2018 - possibly the best of the lot. Quite fragrant initially with plenty of kirsch, flowers and exotic spice. It is ripe and fleshy with lots of silky Merlot character, plum coulis, plump, juicy bramble fruit and Chambord, interwoven with some gravelly minerality and starry cranberry. This is very sumptuous, even hedonistic, but there is harmony and a silky, luxurious feel to the tannins that makes this so appealing. Finishes with pure, ripe griotte. Delicious. 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot.

Maturity:

Keep

ABV:

14.5%

93/100

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Soft ruby rose in colour, fresh acidities, this is clearly a challenging vintage, well handled with gentle and fine tannic frame, raspberry and redcurrant fruits, clear tobacco leaf and smoked earth, edges of tumeric and cumin, should soften a little over the next few years, but honestly no great need to wait, this has St Julien balance and charm, and perhaps the earlier the better to make the most of those qualities, 60% new oak.

Date Reviewed:

06/2024

Drinking Window:

2027 - 2038

90-92/100

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

This barrel sample of the 2021 Beychevelle is composed of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it leaps with redcurrant jelly, fresh black cherries, and dried bay leaves scents, plus wafts of cardamom, lavender, and forest floor. Medium-bodied, the palate is lively and chewy, with just enough fruit and an herbal lift on the finish.

Date Reviewed:

07/2022

Drinking Window:

2026 - 2038

92/100

Neal Martin, Vinous

The 2021 Beychevelle, incidentally the final vintage to contain Cabernet Franc according to Philippe Blanc, is still a little tight on the nose after bottling in June, but, it has a wonderful sense of purity and delineation. The Cabernet Sauvignon is very expressive here, so much so that you might think there was around 75% in the blend, rather than 57%. There's a hint of crushed violet in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, and harmonious with fine sapidity. This is more austere than recent vintages, as you might expect, and perhaps not as long in the mouth, but I appreciate the Pauillac-like graphite note that surfaces with aeration. There is a convincing sense of classicism in this Beychevelle, and it should age with style.

Date Reviewed:

02/2024

Drinking Window:

2026 - 2050

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This product may contain sulphites. Full allergen information is available upon request, please call our Customer Relations Team on +44 (0)20 7484 6430.

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Château Beychevelle

The 4th growth Château Beychevelle sits on the main road in St. Julien, its vineyards stretching north towards Ducru-Beaucaillou. Ships passing by on the Gironde used to honour long time owner the Duc d'Eperon, who was Grand Admiral of France, by lowering their sails('Baisse Voile'). From this tradition came the name Beychevelle. The vineyards are planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot and average approximately 25 years old. Grapes are hand picked and de-stemmed before vinifcation. Elevage takes place in 50% new oak for up to 18 months. Beychevelle has leaned towards a more masculine style of wine in recent years, due to higher proportions of Cabernet Sauvignon, more extraction and higher new oak levels. However it has not lost any of its elegance, charm, balance and has an ability to age seamlessly over 20 years.

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