Beychevelle - Saint-Julien 2017

Wine Advocate

94

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Beychevelle has a fragrant, floral nose with warm cassis, preserved plums and Morello cherries plus earth, herbs and cinnamon touches. Medium-bodied, it has lovely expression with firm, fine grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new and 40% second fill. The final blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Fifty-two percent of the production was dedicated to the grand vin, with 240,000 bottles produced. Drinking Window : 2022 - 2042. 94+

Vinous

95

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 Beychevelle is a luscious, extroverted beauty. An exotic mélange of super-ripe dark cherry, red plum, pomegranate, espresso, licorice and blood orange build as this potent, unctuous Saint-Julien opens up in the glass. The tannins need time to soften but should not be much of an issue in another few years' time. I very much like the push and pull of ripeness and energy in the 2017. In a word: memorable. Tasted two times.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Dark and winey, with a solid core of plum, blackberry and cherry paste flavors, infused liberally with sweet tobacco and tar notes. Shows brambly energy through the finish, which displays ample grip for the cellar. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2036. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

93

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

Aromas of flowers, berries and light cedar with some milk-chocolate undertones. Medium body. Creamy tannins and a firm, caressing finish. Shows tension and focus. Better after 2022.

Le Point

16,5

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Nez sur les fruits frais, onctueux, matière fine, caressante, tanins serrés, note de réglisse, finale relevée, une peu épicée, harmonieux, de la fraîcheur.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

Only 52% of the production went into the 2017 Château Beychevelle (they normally shoot for 60%), and the blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc that’s still aging in 60% new oak. This inky purple-colored beauty gives up loads of blue fruits, black cherries, underbrush, and a touch of minerality in a medium to full-bodied, pretty, elegant package that’s very much in the style of the vintage. This estate has been on a serious roll lately, and the 2017 isn’t going to break the trend. Tasted twice.

WeinWisser

17,5

byRené Gabrielthe5/31/2018

Pupurgranat mit vio-letten Reflexen. Dropsig, warmes Bouquet, dahinter frische rote Grütze, Malznoten und Walderdbeeren. Am fleischigen Gau-men mit reifem Extrakt und guter Frische. lm langen, aromatischen Finale mit betb-rend reifem Schattenmorellensaft. Besserais letztes Jahr!        
17.5/20 2025 - 2040

Vinifera

95

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Nez très gourmand et plein, sur les fruits noirs confits, le zan, le goudron. Superbe bouche pleine, sphérique, riche en goût, remarquable d’élégance dans les tanins, étonnante de vinosité pour le cru. Un des meilleurs Beychevelle goûté à ce jour. Grand vin.

Vinous

92-95

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Beychevelle is absolutely gorgeous. Creamy and beautifully layered on the palate, Beychevelle exudes exotic richness in its ripe red/purplish berry fruit. Even though the 2017 is rather flamboyant in style, it retains quite a bit of brightness to play off its more extroverted leanings. Beychevelle was impressive on the several times I tasted it.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

With its dark color, the wine serves up a juicy array of black fruits, tobacco, cedar and earthy nuances. The wine is full bodied, concentrated and shows the lift from the vintage. The tannins are silky. The finish focuses you on its polished, fresh, dark, red berries. Made from blending 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.66.

Vinous

90-92

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Beychevelle was cropped at 54hl/ha between 18 September and 3 October, matured in around 60% new oak with 13.4° alcohol. It has a very ripe blueberry, almost iodine-scented bouquet that is much more extroverted than its peers (like the 2016 last year.) The palate is medium-bodied with sweet black cherry and boysenberry fruit, and plenty of crushed violet. The palate is ripe and succulent; a sweet core of blue and black fruit here although perhaps its neighbor across the road, Branaire Ducru, displays a little more terroir at this early stage. Maybe that is because of the saignée? I would just like to see a little more restraint come through in bottle while I noticed greater precision developing during the 30 minutes the sample spent in my glass.

Wine Advocate

90-92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Beychevelle opens with gregarious cassis and blackberry pie notes with touches of baking spices and underbrush plus a waft of lavender. Medium-bodied with a great core of ripe black fruits, it has a firm frame of ripe, grainy tannins and balancing freshness, finishing long. The final blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4 Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.

Decanter.com

92

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

This is a fine expression of St-Julien, with extremely pretty aromatics and brambly, juicy black fruits that remain soft and persistent through the palate, with the tiniest hint of acidity tightening the tannins. It's not as expressive as in 2016, but that was exceptional, though this is certainly a wine to recommend in 2017.

Drinking Window 2026 - 2040

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,25

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

93-95

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

This wine is ripe with dense black fruits backed by firm tannins. There is sufficient structure, although the fruit and balanced acidity take center stage. Drink this attractive wine from 2023.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

Very fine tannins already with a solid core of blackberry and blueberry character. Hints of flowers. Full-bodied, well-integrated and tight, not to mention fresh and long.

Wine Spectator

90-93

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

This has a soft core of pure plum and cherry preserve flavors. Light cedar, vanilla and tobacco notes fill in on the finish. Very rounded, displaying a jammy feel rather than the vintage’s overt freshness. A bit of an anomaly.—J.M.