Beychevelle 2015

St Julien, Fourth Growth

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Tasting Notes

The 2015 Beychevelle has a fresh blackberry and briary bouquet of impressive delineation and vigor; hints of smoke and pencil shavings emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, wonderful tension and an almost effervescent, nervous finish that leaves a tongue-tingling dash of black pepper in its wake. So much potential here. As I have written before, this is one of Philippe Blanc's great Beychevelles. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Score: 94

Neal Martin, Vinous.com 01 July 2019

The 2015 Beychevelle has a wonderful ripe blackberry, boysenberry and cassis-scented bouquet that is very well defined. There is nascent energy and tension spilling out from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with quite opulent black fruit laced with graphite and a splash of soy, but underneath is embedded a firm structure. There is real vivacity and terroir expression on the finish, a Beychevelle with enormous potential. One for those seeking “classic” Saint-Julien.

Score: 94

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2022-2045 01 March 2018

The 2015 Beychevelle was picked between 22 September and 8 October, a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot that will be matured in 50% new oak. It has quite a high IPT at 81, a pH of 3.72. It has a clean and crisp bouquet, tightly-wound at first, then unfurls with redcurrant, cranberry and raspberry scents, leaning towards the red spectrum rather than black. There is impressive delineation here, no frills, almost clinical in its "aromatic efficiency." The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. This is a suave Beychevelle in the making, harmonious in the mouth, supple even, gently building towards a lightly spiced finish. Among the Saint Julien wines, this is clearly one of the more understated 2015s. It is only when you swallow the wine that its lingering flavors remind you that this could evolve into one of Philippe Blanc's great Beychevelles. While it is not a headline-grabbing wine, a decade in bottle will be handsomely rewarded.

Score: 92 - 94

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025-2050 01 April 2016

Made in a more flamboyant, lifted style than the 2016, the 2015 Château Beychevelle offers a beautiful, medium to full-bodied, sexy yet elegant style as well as perfumed notes of black cherries, plums, incense, spices, and dried flowers. Given the sweetness in its tannins as well as its purity of fruit, it can be enjoyed today yet will keep for 20+ years.

Score: 95

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2018-2038 15 October 2018

Château Beychevelle covers a full 73.5 hectare of vines in Saint-Julien, with Romain Duclomb (of Château Clinet) functioning as the technical director and Eric Boissenot as oenologue. A true gem in the vintage is the 2015 Château Beychevelle which is 47% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 50% new oak. This beauty is loaded with notions of black cherries, leafy herbs, underbrush and hints of violets. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and opulent on the palate, with fine, ripe tannin, it has all the right components, is intense, pure, and lengthy. Count me in as a fan and it will benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades or more.

Score: 95

Jeb Dunnuck, - Maturity: 2021-2041 30 November 2017

The 2015 Beychevelle is a blend of 47% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot aged 18 months in barrel, 50% of which were new and 50% second fill. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it's scented of smoked meats, scorched earth, garrigue and new leather with a core of cassis, cherry cordial and plum preserves. The medium-bodied palate is a little firm but delicate, with lovely vibrancy and a bit of grip on the finish.

Score: 93

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2039 21 February 2018

Perfumed red with so much presence and brightness. Flowers, currants and blueberries. Some citrus. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Very fine and vivid. Better in 2022.

Score: 94

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 02 February 2018

This is very pretty with ultra-fine tannins, blueberry, blackberry and mineral flavors. Full body, integrated and balanced. Shows refinement and tension.

Score: 92 - 93

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 01 April 2016

The 2015 Beychevelle comes across as much more powerful and plush in bottle than it did as a barrel sample. The black cherry, smoke, leather, tobacco, spice and incense notes are all endowed with notable textural depth. Voluptuous but also quite tannic, the 2015 is going to need at least a few years to come into its own. Readers should expect a powerful, brooding Saint-Julien. Tasted two times.

Score: 94

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2055 01 February 2018

Understated and nuanced, the 2015 Beychevelle is a wine of lovely finesse. Graphite, smoke, plum, violet and lavender are some of the many notes that are found in this delicate, super-expressive Saint-Julien, while floral notes add lift. The finessed side of Saint-Julien comes through nicely here. In 2015, yields were around 47 hectoliters per hectare. The blend is 47% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. New oak is around 50%. Tasted two times.

Score: 92 - 94

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2016

Cool and clean with pure cassis, raspberry and blackberry Cabernet fruit character. The middle is tighter with compact black fruits, some mineral lift, polished tannins and a soft finish.

Score: 91 - 93

Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2016

Bright crimson. Aromatic rather than concentrated. Racy and sinewy. Lots of charm and pzazz without being in the least heavy. Bravo!

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2024-2040 01 April 2016

This has a plush, slightly smoky edge, with plum sauce and blackberry confiture notes forming the core. Shows ample stuffing through the finish, presenting a pleasantly chewy edge.

Score: 90 - 93

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 01 April 2016