Community Tasting Notes 94

• Jeff Leve wrote: 88 points

  January 29, 2024 - Cigar box, currants, spearmint, and spice pop in the nose. The wine is medium bodied, sweet, tart and crisp, with an earthy, crunchy, rustic, firm, finish. Drink from 2024-2030.

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• BellevuePhil Likes this wine: 92 points

  November 12, 2023 - In the dimly lit caverns of a rock musician's soul, where the chords of life intertwine with the ethereal notes of romance, there lies a tale of the 1975 Chateau Beychevelle Grand Vin—a wine that transcends time and melody.
  
  As a lover of the finer things in life, a hopeless romantic, and an adventurer confined by the responsibilities of a high-maintenance wife and kids, this vintage becomes a portal to a bygone era, a story woven into the fabric of my family's history.
  
  The 1975 Chateau Beychevelle Grand Vin is a symphony of flavors that unfolds like the intricate layers of a well-composed rock ballad. Uncorking the bottle is akin to releasing the echoes of a vintage guitar solo, with the first pour signaling the beginning of a musical journey through time. The deep, ruby-red hue of the wine is a visual overture, a promise of the rich experiences waiting to be discovered within each sip.
  
  As a rock musician, I approach wine with a discerning ear, seeking the resonant notes that will harmonize with the chords of my soul. The initial fragrance of the 1975 Chateau Beychevelle Grand Vin is a melodic dance of dark berries, leather, and subtle hints of tobacco—an olfactory composition that captivates the senses like the opening riffs of a classic rock anthem. It's a bouquet that transports me to a different era, where the air is filled with the promise of rebellion and the allure of the unknown.
  
  On the palate, this vintage unveils a tapestry of flavors, each note unfolding with the grace of a well-played guitar solo. The taste of blackcurrants and cherries mingles with a touch of cedar and a whisper of vanilla, creating a complex yet harmonious composition. The tannins, like the deep bass lines of a rock ballad, provide structure and depth, making each sip a journey through the varied landscapes of the Bordeaux region.
  
  Yet, beneath the layers of this exquisite wine lies the heart of a hopeless romantic, yearning for the ephemeral beauty of love. The 1975 Chateau Beychevelle Grand Vin is a testament to the enduring nature of romance, a vintage that ages gracefully, much like the timeless love stories that linger in the corners of our hearts. Its finish is like the lingering refrain of a love song—a bittersweet reminder that some things, like love and fine wine, only improve with time.
  
  As I delve into the intricate flavors of this vintage, my thoughts drift to a story my grandfather shared about this very wine. In the summer of 1970, he found himself in the enchanting gardens surrounding Chateau Beychevelle, captivated not only by the vine-covered landscape but also by a young French girl who tended to the blooms. Her name, lost to time, became a whispered melody in my grandfather's tales—a reminder of a fleeting encounter that left an indelible mark on his heart.
  
  He would reminisce about the innocence of that summer, the way the sun bathed the vineyards in golden hues, and how the young French girl's laughter echoed through the air like the sweetest of refrains. It was a love story of sorts, one that unfolded in the quiet corners of the winery gardens, where the grapevines bore witness to the blossoming connection between two souls.
  
  No, this is not an Opus, nor a Rothschild. But it is a damn good wine hanging on....and worth drinking now.
  
  NOTE TO SELF: HOUR DECANT THEN GLASS BY GLASS

  1 person found this helpful Comments (4)

• tim65 wrote: 90 points

  October 29, 2023 - Agree with last few notes, this wine surprised me by drinking very well at the moment.
  Always found 75 a difficult year, harsh and lacking fruit. This wine still has grip, plenty of ripe tannins, but has resolved to a very pleasurable balance. Not long on the nose or palate, but classic claret. Poured straight from the bottle, but could have decanted as was still holding up after an hour or so.

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• Wine Canuck wrote: 93 points

  October 24, 2023 - Tuesday night blinds: [Tasted Double Blind] This pours medium garnet in the glass with very little bricking. The nose is just fabulous when poured after about 45 minutes in the decanter. Aromas are of rose petals, charcoal, tobacco, plum, dark cherry, blueberry, and earl grey tea. The palate is silky with a light blueberry edge to it with medium minus tannin and medium acid. Loads of mineral on the finish. While clearly Bordeaux, I guessed this was a decade or two younger. Evidently from a bottle that was in perfect condition with a high fill. Beautiful wine.

  2 people found this helpful Comment

• rocknroller wrote: 92 points

  July 12, 2023 - Checking Out Maison Margaux (Maison Margaux, Mpls): Very dark red, nearly saturated color. PNP, drank a glass over an hour. Cassis, cherry, menthol, funky earth and coarse tobacco on the nose. The palate is more red fruited, cherry, cherry lacquer, menthol, crushed rocks, cassis, earth, tobacco, funk, satiny texture, round slightly rustic tannins.

  1 person found this helpful Comment

Pro Reviews 3

Wine Definition

• Vintage 1975
• Type Red
• Producer Château Beychevelle
• Varietal Red Bordeaux Blend
• Designation n/a
• Vineyard n/a
• Country France
• Region Bordeaux
• SubRegion Médoc
• Appellation St. Julien
• UPC Code 649185932104

Community Holdings

• Pending Delivery 25 (3%)
• In Cellars 533 (55%)
• Consumed 405 (42%)

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