2016 Beychevelle
Buying options
Tasting notes
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.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
Aromas of cedar and tobacco. Medium- to full-bodied with polished tannins. It’s persistent and drinkable, with contained richness and length. It needs some time to come together. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.
Deep ruby red, with nuance and movement to the colour, signaling its St Julien finesse. This is a wonderful example of the quaity of 2016, still in primary fruit mode, although with plenty of freshness and juice, waves of crushed mint, hedgerow, blackberry and cassis fruits, tannins pretty muscular at this point. Harvest October 3 to 18, 60% new oak for ageing.
The 2016 Beychevelle has a very intense, slightly more introverted bouquet than other 2016s that I have tasted: blackberry, incense, cedar and light graphite aromas emerging with time. This is quite Pauillac in style. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, a well-built and structured Beychevelle with ample freshness - more than the 2010 tasted alongside. Based on this showing, the 2016 might be entering a closed phase, so cellar it away for several years. Tasted at the Beychevelle vertical at the property.
About the producer
With greater care in the vineyard and more precision in the winery, Ch. Beychevelle's star is rising. That's in large part due to the leadership of Philippe Blanc and investment by current owners, Japanese brewers Suntory and French wine group Castel.