Château Beychevelle
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
Deep and concentrated and with tannins not yet fully resolved. Although having shed lots of its fruit, it was clear to still have a plenty of life left and a lot to offer. Cigar ash, espresso, cedar, scorched earth and black currants. The finish was quite long and generous with grip and very good intensity.
Deep and concentrated and with tannins not yet fully resolved. Although having shed lots of its fruit, it was clear to still have a plenty of life left and a lot to offer. Cigar ash, espresso, cedar, scorched earth and black currants. The finish was quite long and generous with grip and very good intensity.
Jul 9th, 2020Great bottle. Plush, balanced and expressive. Classic Cedar, graphite, currant and herbal spice.
Great bottle. Plush, balanced and expressive. Classic Cedar, graphite, currant and herbal spice.
Jul 8th, 2018The tannins will outlast the fruit in 1986, but it's still a fine Bordeaux on the wrong side of its prime. Drink em if you've got em.
The tannins will outlast the fruit in 1986, but it's still a fine Bordeaux on the wrong side of its prime. Drink em if you've got em.
Dec 21st, 201438 years young. Still bringing it after all these years. near perfect harmony. A real treat from my friend Mark. 
38 years young. Still bringing it after all these years. near perfect harmony. A real treat from my friend Mark. 
Aug 31st, 20241986 vintage. Tasted through 5 bottles at a 1986 BDX dinner at Mister A's-San Diego. Double decanted and tasted over 5 hours. Tremendous bottle variation in the nose. That expected, light Beychevelle body (similar to L'Evangile in Pomerol) aping Burgundy. Bouquet was all over the place but the five bottles consistently sung. Yes, there was brett here and there. Did it DQ any particular bottle(s)? Not from my perch. Better than anticipated. Can see this going steady in this phase for another 4-5 years before dropping down a notch. 3.14.24.
1986 vintage. Tasted through 5 bottles at a 1986 BDX dinner at Mister A's-San Diego. Double decanted and tasted over 5 hours. Tremendous bottle variation in the nose. That expected, light Beychevelle body (similar to L'Evangile in Pomerol) aping Burgundy. Bouquet was all over the place but the five bottles consistently sung. Yes, there was brett here and there. Did it DQ any particular bottle(s)? Not from my perch. Better than anticipated. Can see this going steady in this phase for another 4-5 years before dropping down a notch. 3.14.24.
Mar 15th, 2024Garnet with terracotta rim . Quite a lot of sous bois , mostly red fruits , earthy tobacco. Nicely rounded on the palate , touch of cassis , red currant sous bois, herbal touches on the finish . Nice refreshing acidity , slightly drying tannin , but still well balanced. Very enjoyable and in a perfect spot in this format, now and over the next 5 years .
Garnet with terracotta rim . Quite a lot of sous bois , mostly red fruits , earthy tobacco. Nicely rounded on the palate , touch of cassis , red currant sous bois, herbal touches on the finish . Nice refreshing acidity , slightly drying tannin , but still well balanced. Very enjoyable and in a perfect spot in this format, now and over the next 5 years .
May 15th, 2023Quite a healthy deep garnet core and wide bricking garnet rim . Quite rustic on the nose, touches of tobacco , cedar , herbal notes, pencil lead , bandaid and forest floor. On the palate there is quite nice body still , more red fruit than black , cranberry , red currant , undergrowth , tobacco again . Quite good refreshing acidity , tannin is pretty rustic and drying , actually leaves a bitterness on the palate . Ok tobacco finish . Not bad I suppose , drink now won’t improve , and may well be at the beginning of its decline . This bottle had a level of VTS and a slightly sunken cork, so there maybe better bottles out there .
Quite a healthy deep garnet core and wide bricking garnet rim . Quite rustic on the nose, touches of tobacco , cedar , herbal notes, pencil lead , bandaid and forest floor. On the palate there is quite nice body still , more red fruit than black , cranberry , red currant , undergrowth , tobacco again . Quite good refreshing acidity , tannin is pretty rustic and drying , actually leaves a bitterness on the palate . Ok tobacco finish . Not bad I suppose , drink now won’t improve , and may well be at the beginning of its decline . This bottle had a level of VTS and a slightly sunken cork, so there maybe better bottles out there .
Jan 10th, 2023Fun bottle. Shed the fruit, turn up the scent and taste of a nice cigar, cedar wood, coffee, and scorched earth. Grippy finish. Still fairly tannic.
Fun bottle. Shed the fruit, turn up the scent and taste of a nice cigar, cedar wood, coffee, and scorched earth. Grippy finish. Still fairly tannic.
Oct 27th, 2020A 33 year old classic. Still holding its own with the tannins and fruit still doing their jobs. Showed nice balance. Not many more good years left...but today it tasted quite fine.
A 33 year old classic. Still holding its own with the tannins and fruit still doing their jobs. Showed nice balance. Not many more good years left...but today it tasted quite fine.
May 4th, 2019