Beychevelle - Saint-Julien 2015

Vinous

94-94

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2025

The 2015 Beychevelle is a vintage where I feel Philippe Blanc really excelled. It has an extremely attractive bouquet with vibrant black fruit, more cedar than previous bottles and much less of the medicinal element that I have observed before. Finely delineated, the palate is very well balanced, harmonious and youthful, fresh with a slightly glossiness on the finish. Great potential and just a top-notch Saint-Julien.

Vinous

94

byNeal Martinthe7/10/2019

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.

Wine Advocate

94

byNeal Martinthe3/2/2018

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. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2045. 

Vinous

94

byAntonio Gallonithe2/27/2018

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.

Wine Advocate

93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe2/22/2018

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.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe2/15/2018

Lovely mulled plum and blackberry fruit glides along a cleanly embedded graphite edge, while violet and anise details skirt along the edges. The finish picks up a tasty ganache coating while keeping the energy up. Rock-solid. Best from 2022 through 2040. 20,500 cases made.  –JM

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe2/12/2018

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.

Decanter.com

93

byJane Ansonthe1/26/2018

This has a lovely attack but is a little lacking on the mid-palate for such a brilliant château, although the richness of the black fruit returns as it travels towards the finish line. It opens up in the glass, and displays real poise, but the 2014 and 2016 vintages at this property are where the action is.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe1/10/2018

Lovely mulled plum and blackberry fruit glides along a cleanly embedded graphite edge, while violet and anise details skirt along the edges. The finish picks up a tasty ganache coating while keeping the energy up. Rock-solid. Best from 2022 through 2040.

Jeb DUNNUCK

95

byJeb Dunnuckthe11/30/2017

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.

Jancis Robinson

17

byJulia Harding MWthe11/8/2017

Deep crimson. Savoury, fragrant nose. Quite solid and savoury but with a little tingle on the end. Real lift and freshness. Notably long. Should have a long life. Well done!

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-94

byJeff Levethe4/30/2016

Licorice, tobacco, cassis and black cherry scents pop with little effort, escorting the palate to an end note of chocolate-covered cassis and dark, red fruits. With soft tannins and the structure to age, this is a richly-textured, round and elegantly-styled wine. Produced from a blend of 47% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot, this wine reached 13.9% alcohol with a pH of 3.72. The Grand Vin represents 58% of the harvest which took place from September 22 to October 8. Over the past few years, Beychevelle has really stepped up their game. Under the direction of Philippe Blanc, this has really become a wine to watch.

Wine Advocate

92-94

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2016

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.

Decanter.com

92

bySteven Spurrierthe4/27/2016

Lots of depth and more complexity of fruit than usual – more layered and better grip. This is a very classy Beychevelle, well up to its fourth-growth status. 2022-2035

Vinous

92-94

byAntonio Gallonithe4/27/2016

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.

timatkin.com

93

byTim Atkin MWthe4/20/2016

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe4/18/2016

Bright crimson. Aromatic rather than concentrated. Racy and sinewy. Lots of charm and pzazz without being in the least heavy. Bravo! Drink 2024-2040

Wine Enthusiast

92-94

byRoger Vossthe4/15/2016

Barrel Sample. This wine shows fine black fruit tones along with peppery tannins. It has a light touch, with lively acidity and a pure-fruit tones cut by a dry core. 93 points

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2016

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

Wine Spectator

90-93

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2016

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.—J.M.