chateau beychevelle 4eme cru classe st julien

Château Beychevelle, 4eme Cru Classé, St Julien, 2021

Destination

vintage

Château Beychevelle, 4eme Cru Classé, St Julien, 2021

2021

Justerini & Brooks Tasting note

Château Beychevelle, 4eme Cru Classé, St Julien, 2021

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

The firm frame is a little austere, but there is finesse here, gentle campfire smoke. Blueberry and rasberry, edges of creamy fruit as it heads towards the mid palate, impressive within the vintage, clear smoke, clove and white pepper spice, crayon and slate. Has settled in well over ageing, Nuanaced, with plenty of potential for enjoyable medium term drinking. Tasted twcie.

Date Reviewed:

04/2024

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

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

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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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