2018 Beychevelle
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Tasting notes
The 2018 Beychevelle has a very intense nose, easily the most flamboyant of the modern era, with precocious black cherries, creme de cassis and violet scents. The palate is medium-bodied with layers of toasty black fruit laced with white pepper and thyme that exert an insistent grip. This shows slightly better than from my tastings just after bottling, though I maintain that the 2019 is the better of the two vintages. Tasted at the Beychevelle vertical at the property.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
50% Merlot. Tasted blind. Dark purplish crimson. Not much nose. But very sweet and polished in a Ch Gloria/St-Pierre style. Sweeter than most St-Juliens. (JR)
The 2018 Beychevelle has a fresh, fragrant nose with plenty of blackberry, gravel, mint and incense aromas. It is not the most powerful Saint-Julien but it is certainly very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with a crisp entry and plenty of sappy black fruit, quite dense for Beychevelle. Tasting it three or four times, the first example showed an unexpected greenness on the finish; however, this was not evident on the others sampled.
The flagship 2018 Château Beychevelle is a more serious, concentrated, focused wine that still has that classic Saint-Julien purity of fruit as well as a wealth of fruit. Gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, chocolate-covered blueberries, violets, spring flowers, tobacco leaf, and cedar notes all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with sweet tannins, moderate acidity, and a great, great finish. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it's one of the sexiest, most up-front and irresistible wines in the vintage. Don't let that scare you, though; it's going to drink beautifully for 2-3 decades.
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.