Beychevelle 2018

St Julien, Fourth Growth

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy
6	Bottle (75cl)	Case 12	£720 per Case	Bottles	Low Stock	[Add to shopping basket]

Tasting Notes
The 2018 Beychevelle has the highest level of alcohol at the estate at 14.5% according to winemaker Philippe Blanc. It has an attractive bouquet with liquorice tinged black fruit that gains intensity in the glass whilst maintaining admirable definition. The palate is smooth in texture, moderate depth, a little softer than anticipated with black fruit mixed with (again) liquorice, mint and white pepper. It is certainly a flamboyant Beychevelle, but in my opinion that comes at the expense of a little typicité. It remains a thoroughly pleasurable Beychevelle, although I prefer the more complex 2016 at this stage. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2021-2040 01 November 2019
Showing beautifully both times I was able to taste it, the 2018 Château Beychevelle checks in as a blend of 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that's aging in 60% new French oak. This ultra-pure, refined, gorgeously layered Beychevelle offers terrific notes of black cherries, blackberries, cassis, violets, and damp earth. Deep, concentrated, and layered on the palate, it has a thrilling sense of purity and elegance as well as building structure. This is the third vintage vinified in the new cellar, and the 2018 represents a selection of 50% of the total production. It hit 14.5% alcohol with a healthy pH of 3.74 and a massive IPT of 81. Hats off to director Romain Ducolomb for another brilliant wine that I suspect will surpass both the 2015 and 2016! Score: 95 - 97 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 01 May 2019
The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Beychevelle wafts sensuously from the glass with fragrant Black Forest cake, potpourri, star anise and black tea scents over a core of black raspberries, warm blackcurrants and kirsch with touches of fallen leaves and lavender. Full-bodied and packed with fragrant red and black fruit layers, it has a firm, velvety texture and fantastic freshness lifting the very long, perfumed finish. Beautiful! Anticipated time in barrel is 18 months, 60% new and 40% second fill. The tentative blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Score: 94 - 96 Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate 23 April 2019
This is a dark, deep colour that perfectly reflects the rich blackberry and bilberry fruits on the nose. I really have noticed that Beychevelle has raised its game over the last few vintages and it's maintaining that step-up here. The 2018 is built to age, and will do so with very little trouble. It has violet edging, a good ripe tannic structure and is full of life. It's rounded in terms of mouthfeel, smoothed out but not knocked off balance by the alcohol. It may be approachable earlier than usual perhaps, but with class, ambition and St-Julien signature. A yield of 55hl/ha, with 50% of production going into the grand vin. 60% new oak. Score: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2027-2040 15 April 2019
This is concentrated with a solid core of fruit, yet it’s energetic and driven with plenty of pretty and forceful tannins. Dusty texture. Persistent finish. Score: 93 - 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 11 April 2019
The 2018 Beychevelle is an exceptional, utterly vivid wine. Deep and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2018 has so much to offer. Super-ripe black cherry, crème de cassis, licorice, new oak and chocolate infuse this unctuous, spectacularly ripe Saint-Julien. Beychevelle is exotic, flamboyant and full-throttle, not to mention absolutely stunning. The high presence of Merlot in the blend gives Beychevelle much of its sensuality. What a wine! The 2018 is 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Tasted three times. Score: 93 - 96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2019
Ripe and concentrated, but very sleek, with a remarkably pure beam of cassis and plum reduction flavors. Sweet spice, violet and apple wood notes are thoroughly embedded throughout. Polished and very long. Score: 94 - 97 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 28 March 2019

Tasting Notes

The 2018 Beychevelle has the highest level of alcohol at the estate at 14.5% according to winemaker Philippe Blanc. It has an attractive bouquet with liquorice tinged black fruit that gains intensity in the glass whilst maintaining admirable definition. The palate is smooth in texture, moderate depth, a little softer than anticipated with black fruit mixed with (again) liquorice, mint and white pepper. It is certainly a flamboyant Beychevelle, but in my opinion that comes at the expense of a little typicité. It remains a thoroughly pleasurable Beychevelle, although I prefer the more complex 2016 at this stage. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

Score: 92 - 94

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2021-2040 01 November 2019

Showing beautifully both times I was able to taste it, the 2018 Château Beychevelle checks in as a blend of 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc that's aging in 60% new French oak. This ultra-pure, refined, gorgeously layered Beychevelle offers terrific notes of black cherries, blackberries, cassis, violets, and damp earth. Deep, concentrated, and layered on the palate, it has a thrilling sense of purity and elegance as well as building structure. This is the third vintage vinified in the new cellar, and the 2018 represents a selection of 50% of the total production. It hit 14.5% alcohol with a healthy pH of 3.74 and a massive IPT of 81. Hats off to director Romain Ducolomb for another brilliant wine that I suspect will surpass both the 2015 and 2016!

Score: 95 - 97

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 01 May 2019

The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Beychevelle wafts sensuously from the glass with fragrant Black Forest cake, potpourri, star anise and black tea scents over a core of black raspberries, warm blackcurrants and kirsch with touches of fallen leaves and lavender. Full-bodied and packed with fragrant red and black fruit layers, it has a firm, velvety texture and fantastic freshness lifting the very long, perfumed finish. Beautiful! Anticipated time in barrel is 18 months, 60% new and 40% second fill. The tentative blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 94 - 96

Lisa Perotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate 23 April 2019

This is a dark, deep colour that perfectly reflects the rich blackberry and bilberry fruits on the nose. I really have noticed that Beychevelle has raised its game over the last few vintages and it's maintaining that step-up here. The 2018 is built to age, and will do so with very little trouble. It has violet edging, a good ripe tannic structure and is full of life. It's rounded in terms of mouthfeel, smoothed out but not knocked off balance by the alcohol. It may be approachable earlier than usual perhaps, but with class, ambition and St-Julien signature. A yield of 55hl/ha, with 50% of production going into the grand vin. 60% new oak.

Score: 94

Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2027-2040 15 April 2019

This is concentrated with a solid core of fruit, yet it’s energetic and driven with plenty of pretty and forceful tannins. Dusty texture. Persistent finish.

Score: 93 - 94

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 11 April 2019

The 2018 Beychevelle is an exceptional, utterly vivid wine. Deep and beautifully layered in the glass, the 2018 has so much to offer. Super-ripe black cherry, crème de cassis, licorice, new oak and chocolate infuse this unctuous, spectacularly ripe Saint-Julien. Beychevelle is exotic, flamboyant and full-throttle, not to mention absolutely stunning. The high presence of Merlot in the blend gives Beychevelle much of its sensuality. What a wine! The 2018 is 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Tasted three times.

Score: 93 - 96

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2019

Ripe and concentrated, but very sleek, with a remarkably pure beam of cassis and plum reduction flavors. Sweet spice, violet and apple wood notes are thoroughly embedded throughout. Polished and very long.

Score: 94 - 97

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 28 March 2019

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