2020 Beychevelle
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
Ch. Beychevelle has produced a seriously fresh wine in 2020. The aromas hint at greenness, with a bit of green pepper and new leather interspersed with peppery spice. Despite this herbaceous side, the tannins are fully resolved and detailed, while the fruit is distinctly mouth-watering – fresh blackberry mingling with liquorice. The wine is medium-bodied and the oak complements the fruit beautifully, with everything coming together nicely on the long finish.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Brambled fruit, muscular but nicely integrated tannic architecture, cocoa bean and blackberry, well put together, skilful and enjoyable, cassis and cloves, grilled toast and sandalwood. Suggest giving the traditional ten years in bottle before opening, and should stay on the plateau for another few decades after that. Harvest September 14 to 29, 47hl/h yield, 60% new oak for ageing.
Tasted blind. Deepest crimson. Sweet, ripe and oaky on the nose though not overripe. Really grippy tannins and just enough flesh to balance – pretty demanding now. (JH)
The 2020 Beychevelle has an open-knit, very well-defined bouquet with pure black cherries, bilberry, veins of blueberry and crushed violet. There's just a touch of new oak still waiting to be assimilated. The palate is lavish and very ripe, displaying black fruit tinged with notes of fig and date, turning almost exotic toward the lascivious finish. Perhaps, for Beychevelle, this is modern in style. It's a world away from the slightly herbal showing in barrel, but bottle age ought to temper its hedonistic urges. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
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.