Beychevelle - Saint-Julien 2022

Alexandre Ma

94

par Alexandre Ma le 10/03/2025

In terms of “gentle tenderness,” no one can compare to Château Beychevelle in Saint-Julien. Despite the sweltering, dry conditions in 2022, this wine maintains the same blend as in 2021 (54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot). Upon swirling the glass, licorice-apricot, tart plum, and distinct cherry open up, accompanied by lingering hints of fennel and clove. Due to its compact structure and substantial tannins, this wine seems to possess more “temperament” than other vintages, more like a capricious Ragdoll cat.

Wine Advocate

94

par William Kelley le 07/03/2025

The 2022 Beychevelle has turned out nicely, offering up aromas of ripe berry compote mingled with notions of petals, espresso roast and rich, toasty oak. Medium to full-bodied, sweet and fleshy, it's velvety and layered, with plenty of powdery tannin lurking behind its ripe core of fruit. It's a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Fans of contemporary Beychevelle's rich, lusty style will love it.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

95

par Jane Anson le 07/03/2025

This is good stuff, intense, rippled cassis, pomegranate and cocoa bean, with smoked charcoal, sandalwood, cloves - another St Julien that is flirting with exuberance, a little unusual for the appellation but very enjoyable, clear ageing ability and impressive construction. Romain Ducolomb technical director, Philippe Blanc director.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97

par Jeff Leve le 04/03/2025

Beychevelle, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

97

par Jeb Dunnuck le 28/02/2025

The 2022 Château Beychevelle comes from 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in barrel. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by an absolutely stunning nose of crème de cassis and plum fruit intermixed with leafy herbs, spring flowers, and crushed stone-like minerality. This full-bodied Beychevelle has a pure, elegant mouthfeel, finely polished tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. This is brilliant stuff that already offers pleasure today yet will cruise over the following two to three decades. It's the finest Beychevelle I've tasted.

Yvesbeck.wine

96

par Yves Beck le 25/02/2025

54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot Superbe bouquet marqué par des notes fruitées, florales et minérales, respectivement des notes de cassis, de camomille, d'eucalyptus et finalement un peu de graphite. Je relève également des nuances de torréfaction, mais elles ne sont pas dominantes. Dense et profond, le vin crée le lien entre charme et puissance. Ses tannins compacts, suaves et aux grains fins confèrent une assise précieuse, tandis que la structure acide assure tempérament et fraîcheur. Un vin entraînant et persistant. 2028-2052 96/100

Vinous

96

par Neal Martin le 12/02/2025

The 2022 Beychevelle has a succinct bouquet that has tightened up since I tasted it in barrel. It retains wonderful precision and focus, pure black fruit, black olive compote and subtle tobacco scents. It unfurls with aeration yet doesn't want to give too much away. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins. Like Gruaud Larose this year, there is a newfound sense of clarity that lifts this 2022 above recent vintages. This is unequivocally one of the most elegant Beychevelles on the finish and it lingers temptingly in the mouth. It’s a benchmark wine for this Saint-Julien—bravo to head winemaker Philippe Blanc and his team.

Jamessuckling.com

95

par James Suckling le 03/02/2025

Intense blackberries and blackcurrants with spice and lead-pencil aromas. Medium-bodied, it has creamy and polished tannins and a long and flavorful finish. The cabernet sauvignon is singing here. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 4% petit verdot. Give it three to five years of bottle age. Best after 2028.

Vinous

96

par Antonio Galloni le 28/01/2025

The 2022 Beychevelle is so impressive. A wine of precision and stature, the 2022 has so much to offer. Inky dark fruit, licorice, mocha and lavender build in a sumptuous, creamy Saint-Julien. All of that intensity mounts through the mid-palate, reaching a stunning crescendo on the explosive, resonant finish. Even with all of its obvious intensity, the 2022 retains a gorgeous sense of freshness and vibrancy.

Wine Spectator

94

par James Molesworth le 22/01/2025

Generous in feel, with a delicious wave of warmed plum sauce and crushed blackberry fruit backed by a well-embedded graphite spine, this moves through steadily, letting licorice snap, ink and sweet tobacco notes emerge slowly on the lengthy finish. Rock solid. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2040. Tasted twice, with consistent notes. 18,333 cases made.

Wine Maniacs

94-95

par Lin Liu le 30/05/2023

Decanter.com

95

par Georgina Hindle le 25/05/2023

Supple, rich and velvety. Great delineation of tannins and fruit with creamy blueberries and cola touches alongside savoury elements of dark chocolate, liquorice and salt. Structured and well worked, this feels sophisticated, focussed and confident. It's missing a touch of acidity, but this is well worked with plenty of potential to age. A yield of 36hl/ha.

Alexandre Ma

94-96

par Alexandre Ma le 17/05/2023

In terms of "gentle tenderness," no one can compare to Château Beychevelle in Saint-Julien. Despite the sweltering, dry conditions in 2022, this wine maintains the same blend as in 2021 (54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot). Upon swirling the glass, licorice-apricot, tart plum, and distinct cherry open up, accompanied by lingering hints of fennel and clove. Due to its compact structure and substantial tannins, this wine seems to possess more "temperament" than other vintages, more like a capricious Ragdoll cat.

Vinous

95-97

par Neal Martin le 17/05/2023

The 2022 Beychevelle was picked between 12-29 September at 36hL/ha, matured in 70% new oak. It has an intense bouquet with black cherries, blueberry and touches of cassis and violet. Not as ostentatious as some other Saint-Julien wines at this early stage, but delineated, and it positively brims with energy. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit framed by beautifully-sculpted tannins. The 2022 is very harmonious, satin-like in texture, and gently fans out toward the finish. It ends up being one of the most seductive Beychevelles I have tasted from barrel, one not to be overlooked. Chapeau, Mr. White! 14.08% alcohol.

The Vintage Journal

95-96

par Andrew Caillard MW le 17/05/2023

Deep crimson. Intense inky blackcurrant cedar aromas and flavours, sweet almost velvety textures, superb mid palate volume and well integrated oak complexity. Minerally and long at the finish. A classic vintage for Beychevelle. (Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, Petit EVrdot Cabernet Franc 60% new oak)

matthewjukes.com

18

par Matthew Jukes le 15/05/2023

The Wine Independent

94-96

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 15/05/2023

A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Beychevelle has a TPI of 78 and a pH of 3.8. It is deep garnet-purple in color and needs a swirl or two to wake up pronounced notes of crème de cassis, plum preserves, and Morello cherries, giving way to nuances of candied violets, Darjeeling tea, and dark chocolate. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely laden with layers of black fruit preserves, supported by fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a mineral lift.

Vinous

94-96

par Antonio Galloni le 11/05/2023

The 2022 Beychevelle is fabulous. In most recent vintages Beychevelle has been a flamboyant, extravagant Saint-Julien, but in 2022 is its surprisingly vibrant and fresh, almost shockingly so. Ripe red cherry/plum fruit, blood orange, rose petal and spice are all beautifully delineated. More than anything, I admire the wine’s freshness and drive, qualities that have not often been present in recent vintages. That makes the 2022 one of my favorite recent vintages here. Tasted three times.

Yvesbeck.wine

95-96

par Yves Beck le 10/05/2023

Beychevelle révèle différentes facettes au travers de notes de bois frais, de graphite et de fruits noirs complétées par des nuances de menthe poivrée. En bouche le vin est dense et suave. Ses tannins, veloutés et parfaitement intégrés, assurent puissance et énergie. Ils sont secondés par la structure acide qui cautionne la finale en plébiscitant son expression fruitée, sa salinité et sa persistance. Un vin qui cumule tempérament, charme et persistance. Très belle réussite.

Bettane & Desseauve

96

par Bettane & Desseauve le 10/05/2023

Nez et texture raffinées, boisé en harmonie avec la texture, grande persistance. Comme souvent, ce beychevelle est une définition formelle de l’élégance intense.

Jeb DUNNUCK

95-97

par Jeb Dunnuck le 10/05/2023

I was able to taste the 2022 Château Beychevelle on multiple occasions, and it never failed to impress me. Based on 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that will see 18 months in 70% new oak, it's one of those wines that makes you stop and say "wow" due to its purity, depth, and texture. Sporting a dense purple hue as well as lots of blueberry and black cherry fruits, it's full-bodied and has a layered, seamless mouthfeel, building yet gorgeous tannins, and subtle background notes of crushed violets, flowers, and graphite. This is a sensational effort from director Philippe Blanc. 95-97+

The Wine Independent

94-96

par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 08/05/2023

A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Beychevelle has a TPI of 78 and a pH of 3.8. It is deep garnet-purple in color and needs a swirl or two to wake up pronounced notes of crème de cassis, plum preserves, and Morello cherries, giving way to nuances of candied violets, Darjeeling tea, and dark chocolate. The medium to full-bodied palate is densely laden with layers of black fruit preserves, supported by fine-grained tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long with a mineral lift.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

par Jeff Leve le 05/05/2023

Flowers, black cherries, cedar, tobacco wrapper, and blackberries crowd into the perfume. On the palate, the fruits match the nose. The wine is silky, fresh, vibrant, and concentrated. The fruits express purity, elegance and refinement. The finish delivers a wealth of sweet red, and black fruits, creamy textures and a chalky finish that sticks with you. The wine blends 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot.14% ABV, pH 3.85. The harvest took place September 12 - September 29. The yields were 36 hectoliters per hectoliter with 60% of the harvest going into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2027-2060.

Wine Advocate

92-94

par William Kelley le 02/05/2023

Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cherries and cassis mingled with hints of violets and licorice, framed by creamy new oak, the 2022 Beychevelle is medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, with a fleshy core of fruit framed by rich, unusually suave and polished tannins in the context of recent vintages at this address. It's a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, with a pH of 3.85, quite typical for this address.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

par James Suckling le 19/04/2023

The tannins are very well-integrated with lovely bright fruit of currants and blackberries. Medium to full body. Vivid and pretty. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot and 4% petit verdot.