Beychevelle - Saint-Julien 2016

Jancis Robinson

17

byJancis Robinsonthe2/5/2020

Yvesbeck.wine

96

byYves Beckthe3/20/2019

Pourpre violacé. Nez intense, complexe, juvénile, marqué par des notes de baies et d'élevage. Beaucoup de subtilité. Au palais, le vin est friand et rond. Il a de l'ampleur, du jus et une structure rafraîchissante. Les tannins sont parfaitement intégrés et forment une belle symbiose avec la vivacité du palais. Un vin qui a beaucoup de finesse et de puissance. Il a besoin de passer du temps en cave avant d'être savouré. Finale persistante. Très belle réussite. 2024-2056 96/100

Jeb DUNNUCK

96

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/1/2019

I was able to taste the 2016 Château Beychevelle on two occasions, and it showed beautifully both times. This is also the first vintage made in the new cellar. Medium to full-bodied, incredibly seamless and elegant on the palate, yet beautifully concentrated, it offers a heavenly perfume of spring flowers, violets, saddle leather, and blueberry and cassis fruit. A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc, brought up in 50% new oak, it’s still tight, taunt, and reserved on the palate, yet has the hallmark purity of fruit and balance of the vintage front and center. Hide bottles for 4-6 years, and it will keep for 25+ years or more.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe2/5/2019

This has a slightly beefy edge, with warmed plum and blackberry paste flavors pumping through. Shows a touch of heft on the back end, with dark tobacco and earth notes leaving a subtly chewy feel, though there's ample fruit to soak that up. Best from 2024 through 2038. 19,167 cases made.  –JM

Jamessuckling.com

94

byJames Sucklingthe2/4/2019

Stacks of cassis, graphite and smoke on the nose of this rather full-bodied St.-Julien with a ton of velvety tannins that drive the long finish that’s simultaneously sweet, fresh and powdery. Try in 2022.

Vinous

96

byNeal Martinthe1/24/2019

The 2016 Beychevelle has a stunning bouquet of vibrant, shimmering blackberry and wild strawberry fruit laced with crushed stone and rose petals. The well-balanced palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a slightly savory/dried blood finish that lingers in the mouth. Tasting both in London and in Bordeaux, I found the latter bottle to have a little more precision and race on the finish. This will surely be a benchmark for this Saint Julien estate.

Vinous

92

byAntonio Gallonithe1/21/2019

The 2016 Beychevelle offers quite a bit of up-front intensity and immediacy. Fruity, supple and forward, the 2016 holds quite a bit of appeal, although it is not as persistent or complex as I had hoped it would be, especially given how exceptional so many Sa Juliens are in 2016. Tasted two times.

Wine Advocate

95

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe11/30/2018

The 2016 Beychevelle is comprised of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It spent 18 months aging in 50% new and 50% second-use barrels. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little broody to begin, opening slowly to reveal subtle savory notes of dried herbs, charcuterie and black olives before breaking through to a profound core of warm cassis, baked black plums, red currant jelly and candied violets. The palate is medium-bodied and delicately played with a quiet intensity of tightly wound nuances and fantastic freshness, finishing with a lingering savory lift. This latent beauty will require a bit more time than most 2016s, but promises to over-deliver to those prepared to wait. Around 19,000 cases were made.

Decanter.com

94

byJane Ansonthe10/31/2018

WeinWisser

17

byTjark Witzgallthe5/22/2017

Tiefes Purpur mit schwarzer Mitte und violettem Rand. Viel Cassis und Brombeerblüten, dahinter süsslicher Kirschtabak. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit engmaschigem Körper und feinmehligem Extrakt. Langes,  romatisches Finale, das mit feiner Adstringenz endet. Kann an den Erfolg vom Vorjahr anknüpfen.

Bettane & Desseauve

96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Remarquable par sa densité de couleur et la pureté de son fruit, matière proportionnellement plus impressionnante à ce stade qu’en 2009 et 2010.

Wine Advocate

96-98

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The 2016 Beychevelle is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc cropped at 45 hectoliters per hectare between 3 October and 18 October. It is matured in 50% new oak. Furthermore, it is the first vintage to be matured in the new chichi winery whose glass exterior overlooks the passing traffic on the D2. It has a very pure, fragrant bouquet with black cherries, cassis, cedar and wet limestone, extremely precise to the point where you might think it was from the Right Bank (logical given the proportion of Merlot in the blend). The palate is sensational: understated at first and bridled with ultra-fine tannin, it is a Beychevelle armed with a disarming sense of symmetry. It builds in the mouth towards a fabulously tensile finish that is so fresh and full of energy that the senses are almost overwhelmed. Frankly, it leaves all the other Beychevelles in recent years standing. This is an electrifying 2016 from winemaker Philippe Blanc and his right-hand man, technical director, Romain Ducolomb.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,75

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/28/2017

Le meilleur jamais fait ! Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. La plus belle que je connaisse dans ce cru. Nez intense, fin, fruité, pur, mûr et fumé. Très fondant dès l’attaque, moelleux, avec une texture minutieuse et beaucoup de goût, le vin s’étoffe à partir du milieu de bouche tout en conservant un charme fou. Tannicité raffinée. Une grande réussite. Bravo !

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

byJeff Levethe4/27/2017

A blue-black deep red, nearly opaque, this the sexiest wine ever created at Beychevelle. The nose moves with cassis, tobacco, cigar box, flowers, boysenberry and dark chocolate. The fruit has unbelievable length, purity, density and silk sheets for tannins — grand style and character here. This is the first vintage produced in their gleaming, brand new, state-of-the-art cellars. Made from blending 47% Cabernet Sauvignon , 47% Merlot , 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc , the wine reached 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.62. The Grand Vin represents just 60% of the harvest, which took place from October 3 to October 15, the latest harvest in the history of Beychevelle. 

Vinous

91-94

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

A heady wine, the 2016 Beychevelle possesses off-the-charts richness and intensity. White truffle, plum, lavender, black cherry and incense, along with an unctuous, racy feel, give the wine much of its exotic, voluptuous personality. Not at all subtle, the 2016 shows the more flamboyant side of Saint-Julien. Its balance is beyond reproach, however. Ripeness is pushed to the edge in 2016, yet the wine is absolutely compelling. This is a fabulous showing from Beychevelle and technical director Romain Ducolomb. Tasted two times.

matthewjukes.com

18

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

(47 Merlot, 47 Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 Petit Verdot, 1 Cabernet Franc) | 50% new oak | 13.5% alc. | 45 hl/ha. | 77 IPT There is a dark, tea-like perfume at the core of this wine and it is incredibly attractive. The richness and power of carefully macerated berries, on the nose, never oversteps the mark and the summer sunshine is evident at the same time as the cool nights, too, in the restraint and finesse throughout. The finish is long and spicy and it props up the oak perfectly while hinting at the superb condition of the fruit at harvest. Exotic and floral, this wine will be slow to soften but when it does it will be a real eye-opener and it is another massive performance for this impressive estate. 18+

Decanter.com

94

byJane Ansonthe4/24/2017

An extremely successful Beychevelle this year, a carefully drawn wine where the fruit register is deep and dark, the tannins a little brooding, and a seam of freshness runs right through and picks things up. Excellent persistency, a beautiful wine. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

Jancis Robinson

16,5

byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2017

Dark purple. Light peppery nose. Sweet palate entry with a hint of sweet oak, and then a bit austere on the palate. Lively coconut hint. Falls away on the finish. Competent rather than exciting.

Wine Enthusiast

94-96

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. With tannins that are beautifully integrated into the rich black-fruit flavors, this is already a well-balanced wine. It is solid and will last, though the attractiveness of the fruit is already there.

Wine Spectator

93-96

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2017

A textbook St.-Julien in the making, with crushed plum and warm cassis notes inlaid with anise and graphite accents. The muscular, driven finish is just a touch chewy in feel but gets soaked up quickly on the finish by the pure fruit. Really solid.—J.M.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

The softness and finesse to this are indeed impressive with blackberry and blackcurrant character. Full-bodied, dense and polished. Lovely texture and length. It builds on the palate. Clearly better in 2015. This is the first year in from the new cellar.