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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 91.8 pts. and median of 92 pts. in 211 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by the player on 3/10/2024 & rated 92 points: Last bottle. Crimson red, nose of spicy cassis, lots of earth tones, red currants. Medium to full bodied, some rusticity in this wine typical of Beychevelle pré modern era, finishes tannic and long despite two hours in decanter. Still young. (448 views) | | | Tasted by speedywine on 3/3/2024 & rated 92 points: Opened 4 hours before drinking, not decanted. Fantastic wine, full maturity. PERFECT ! (408 views) | | | Tasted by yorkch on 1/27/2024 & rated 93 points: Beautiful. Opened 3 hrs before drinking and not decanted. Proper grown-up St Julien. Softer tobacco and gentle fruit. Some spice. Absolutely superb and the best bottle from this case , so far. (651 views) | | | Tasted by the player on 1/20/2024 & rated 93 points: Truly amazing and needs a couple of hours or more in the decanter. So young for a 2000. Dark ruby red, lots of earth, graphite, leather, black currants and peppery cassis fully reflected on the palate. Medium to full bodied, the finish is long with ground coffee and soft tannins. (686 views) | | | Tasted by the player on 1/12/2024 & rated 92 points: Lovely mature Beychevelle drinking very well but with many years ahead of it. See previous notes simply delicious. (918 views) | | | Tasted by jdrosen on 1/6/2024 & rated 94 points: On the nose, green pepper. On the palate, green pepper, cassis. Mid palate the tannins come out and you get some spice, and then it settles down into graphite, leather. This was what I got 30mins in. Really lovely wine. (736 views) | | | Tasted by the player on 1/5/2024 & rated 93 points: Lovely Beychevelle mature. Deep ruby red. Decanted and then drank over 90 minutes. Very typical Beychevelle. Nose of graphite, Brett, leather, lots of cigar tobacco, spicy cassis, black currants, some green peppers. On the palate very balanced, medium to full bodied, peppery cassis with earth and leatber, stones, solid mid palate, well structured, finishes with tannins present but softened by the darkness of the fruit, good length on the finish. This is delicious and reminded me of the 1982 Beychevelle I love. Very classic. (599 views) | | | Tasted by Diane (LI) on 1/1/2024: Some 2000 Bordeaux are in their prime, and this is one of them. Dark fruit, leather, and feral. Tannins are sneaky, but I’ll take them. (690 views) | | | Tasted by Rezy13 on 12/29/2023: Great nose, just classic Bordeaux funk, in a good spot age-wise, liqueured cherry and red currant, green pepper, tobacco, wet earth, leather, Brett more evident on palate so gets a little more funky but a delicious bottle of Beychevelle. (535 views) | | | Tasted by Redteeth on 12/15/2023: The last bottle I opened recently was so nice i decided to try another. The bottle was thoroughly decanted and allowed to sit about four hours before consumption. The was great in all respects, color, aroma and taste. It was rich and balanced. it is a pleasure to drink now. (546 views) | | | Tasted by Redteeth on 12/13/2023: This bottle received a thorough decanting a few hours in advance of serving. It was in great shape for 23 years old and a pleasure to drink. It was paired with a 2000 Haut Batailley which we opened and decanted the same way. Both wines were very nice, but the Beychevelle was the acclaimed favorite. (535 views) | | | Tasted by CarpeDiem! on 12/3/2023 & rated 91 points: After a stunning bottle opened around Easter this one was a bit more reserved. Much St. Julien typicity for sure (mature black berries, cedar box, roast aromas, tobacco, liquorice, sweet spices) but less finesse and depth. (388 views) | | | Tasted by M.Batard on 12/1/2023 & rated 93 points: Decanted just before dinner was served. Classic cassis with strong note of cedar on a savory palate. Tannins beginning to integrate well; long finish. Paired beautifully with Chef Sherry’s famed lamb tagine. Much better outing than my last two notes from ‘22 or ‘18, so I have high hopes this has hit its stride. (614 views) | | | Tasted by lovemycab on 11/26/2023 & rated 93 points: Decanted at a restaurant and served after about 90 minutes. This wine is in a great spot. Tannins are well integrated. Cassis, earth and some spice. Drinking well now and can continue to hold up. (618 views) | | | Tasted by Papies on 11/11/2023 & rated 95 points: A French Bistot dinner in … London (Bouchon Racine , London): Decanted and served and this is a joy for lovers of classic well aged claret. Frankly we would have said 1996 Margaux if this was blind as the wine definitely is well secondary but rather than the juicy profile of St Julien this had a more floral, herby, minty edge on the nose. Good , well matured fuit , very welcoming and fully delivers. We do feel this wine is now drinking at peak and is exceptional. We joked that this is too voluptés in a way and trying too hard to please but we will not fault it for that. 94-95 (1004 views) | | | Tasted by doug374 on 10/29/2023 & rated 94 points: Drinking very well. Excellent color and nose. Notes of Earth, tobacco, ripe fruit in smooth envelope with rounded tannins. (699 views) | | | Tasted by arpaddagreat on 10/19/2023 & rated 98 points: Perfect to me. Felt like it was in a great place. Soft and smooth. I don't have tons of experience drinking aged Bordeaux but this was all I could ever ask for out of a fine wine. (742 views) | | | Tasted by zachb1125 on 8/26/2023 & rated 93 points: Decanted, consumed over several hours. Prime was probably 1.5-2.5 hours in.
Delightful and concentrated nose of blueberry, currant, black cherry, cedar, dust, earth, baking spice, violets, black pepper, and menthol. Palate leads with intense fruit (blueberry, black currant, baked plum) that slowly transitions to similar, but softer, secondary notes. Smooth but still lively tannins and acidity. Drinking very well now, but will probably last a while yet. (1070 views) | | | Tasted by ccn on 7/31/2023 & rated 93 points: Such an elegant wine, overshadowed everything else. In a perfect state but certainly not declining. (1128 views) | | | Tasted by La Cave d'Argent on 7/28/2023 & rated 94 points: Purchased upon release and cellared in pristine fashion, this bottle was decanted off of its sediment, then decanted a second time through a Vinturi aerator. It was subsequently sampled over a three-hour period, clearly improving during the first 90 minutes in carafe. A blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 6% Petit Verdot, it has a youthful deep ruby/red robe with garnet rim and flaunts a bouquet of cassis, Morello cherries, violets, leather, mulling spices, cocoa, cigar wrapper and bramble leaf. Medium-bodied, freshly acidic and seamlessly alcoholic (13%), it follows with flavors that mirror the aromas. The oak has completely integrated and the residual tannins are fully polished. Impressively long on the finish, this "old school" Saint-Julien is fleshing out beautifully. Comparably cellared bottles will last much longer than previously projected by the pundits (and me). Drink now-2035. (1102 views) | | | Tasted by Tao on 7/6/2023 & rated 91 points: Intense nose of dark peppery fruits, dense and rich on the palate, a touch simple yet easy to drink, and a great companion to grilled pepper steak. (1184 views) | | | Tasted by Reynaldo Dabus Abucham on 6/20/2023: Atualizando adega (1093 views) | | | Tasted by JDB on 5/10/2023 & rated 93 points: Enjoyed with grilled bacon cheeseburgers. Veery delicious , opened and poured off a couple of ounces and let the wine sit for a couple of hours. Delicious, not sure I see it getting better (1214 views) | | | Tasted by CarpeDiem! on 4/26/2023 & rated 93 points: Much improved since I had my first bottle of the lot. Very well matured, exciting and typical St. Julien. Smooth, silky and well rounded black berries, cedar box, roast aromas, tobacco, liquorice, with that little touch of sweet spice typical for SJ. Enjoyable now, but may still improve over another decade. I bought this bottle for EUR 30. More recent vintages sell 3-4 times that price - the price of greed and vanity. Your call. (1101 views) | | | Tasted by oncocyte on 4/24/2023 & rated 97 points: Last time I was this moved by a wine was 86 Gruaud. Pop and pour. Minor evolution over 2-3 hours, devolving as we approached the sediment. Flawless from the gate. A degree of saddle leather, pencil shavings, and cedar on the nose. The palate was cassis, appropriate sweetness, dusty soft tannins, leading to a harmonious finish with muted alcohol. Mostly it was the perfect harmony of the elements that so moved me. So, so elegant. Could this be the last of the old style Bordeaux? (1140 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, Lower Your Sails (Or Breeches): Beychevelle 1929-2019 (Mar 2023) (3/1/2023)
(Beychevelle Beychevelle Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, Looking Backward/Looking Forward: 2000 vs 2001 Bordeaux (Sep 2021) (9/1/2021)
(Beychevelle Beychevelle Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (8/10/2007)
(Ch Beychevelle St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (1/20/2005)
(Ch Beychevelle St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2004
(Chateau Beychevelle St Julien) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, November 2004
(Château Beychevelle St Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2002, IWC Issue #102
(Chateau Beychevelle Saint Julien) Subscribe to see review text. | By Stephen Tanzer
Vinous, May/June 2001, IWC Issue #96
(Chateau Beychevelle Saint Julien) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JancisRobinson.com and Winedoctor. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Beychevelle Producer website - Read more about Chateau Beychevelle
A visit to Château Beychevelle
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/08/visit-to-chateau-beychevelle.html
Saint-Julien 4ème Grand Cru Classé
The Vineyard: Chateau Beychevelle covers an area of 250 ha, of which 90 ha are planted with vines. The closeness of the Gironde river, which can be seen from the front steps of the Château, has a protective, regulating effect on the climate that is vital for the production of exceptional wines. The vineyard is planted with 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Plant density is about 8,300 to 10,000 vines/ha. On average, the vines are 30 years of age.
The Soil: The terroir consists of deep Garonne gravel from the Gunzian period, ideal for Cabernet Sauvignon.
Vinification: The wine of Chateau Beychevelle is vinified in a combination of temperature controlled, stainless steel, and concrete vats. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank. It is then aged in an average of 50% new French oak barrels for about 18 months.Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.St. Julien VdB
Read more detailed information on St. Julien and its wines The seventeenth century pioneers Traces are to be found of a Saint-Julien de Rintrac, perhaps Saint-Julien's earliest name, as from the thirteenth century. But we have to wait until the seventeenth century pioneers, urban and rural aristocrats, discover the exceptional merits of these terroirs.
Traces of this system still exist today in the structure of estates within the appellation: by the side of the two villages of Beychevelle and Saint-Julien, the large estates are heavily preponderant, representing more than four fifths of the total surface of vineyards.
The terrain is practically identical over all the commune. Only the proximity of the estuary, sometimes close, sometimes further away, can cause slight variations in climate. In fact, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle's layer of gravel takes the form of a huge rectangle over 3 miles long and 2 miles wide. And the alluvial deposits are particularly well fragmented into ridges of Garonne gravel of the early Quaternary. Accordingly, the vines are safeguarded from stagnant water.
The wines from the Saint-Julien appellation may be recognized by their unparalleled bouquet, particularly harmonious and mild. They have a fine deep colour and combine the finesse of their aromas and a solid constitution. They have body, are very rich in flavour and have a delicious and delicate bouquet.
Production conditions (Decree dated November 14, 1936)
In order to have the right to the Saint-Julien appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Saint-Julien and from precisely defined parcels in the communes of Cussac, and Saint-Laurent, "excluding the parcels situated on recent alluvium and sand on impermeable subsoils",
- satisfy precise production conditions: grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare). |
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