2023, Château Beychevelle, SAINT-JULIEN, Grand Vin

Last Year EP $148.00-

With its distinctive label, Beychevelle (4th Growth 1855) is a well known Bordeaux. Often one of the most forward and user-friendly of the Saint Julien classed growths. There has been a  significant step-up in quality in recent vintages. Always polished and supple.
The 2023 blend is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. 13.3% alcohol. 

The 2023 Beychevelle is fabulous. As always, Beychevelle includes quite a bit more Merlot than most wines in the appellation, but the Cabernet is especially high here. Inky dark fruit, crème de cassis, mocha, liquorice and lavender build in the glass. This juicy, extroverted Saint-Julien has a ton to offer. The combination of fruit intensity, acid and supporting structure is superb. The 2023 is showy, but not at all overdone. Beychevelle remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Bordeaux. It is especially classy in this edition.
94-96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

The 2023 Beychevelle has turned out especially well this year, exhibiting a more integrated, seductive style than recent vintages that were constructed in a punchier, more extracted register. Offering up aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pen ink, violets and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit and a classy, suave profile that foregrounds the estate's prime vineyard holdings on the plateau around Ducru-Beaucaillou.
93-94 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

Pure fruit to this, with blueberries, hazelnuts, walnut and blackcurrants. Just like eating grapes at this stage. It has a full body, juicy tannins and a savoury finish. Remains vivid and energetic.
94-95 James Suckling.

Plummy red fruits, fresh acidities, sculpted tannic architecture, this has balance and finesse, white pepper, capsicum spice, black tea, cigar box, liquorice root, rose petals, fine tannins, St Julien balance with a kick of smoked oak on the finish.
94 Jane Anson.