Chateau Beychevelle 4eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 2009

A subtle, refined 2009 with complex aromas and flavors of currants, smoke, minerals and lead pencil. Full body with ultra-refined tannins and a long, long finish. An integrated, beautiful Beychevelle. Hard not to drink now but will be much better in 2017. A wine for long-term aging.

Juicy, richly textured, plenty of depth here, rich red and black fruits, stretching out through the palate, fresh on the finish, this takes time to open and is still young in feel, not as generous as some 2009s but captures the graphite and gunsmoke of a Left Bank Cab and will keep on delivering. Harvest September 21 to 12 October, 60% new oak for ageing.

Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Beychevelle begins a little closed, slowly revealing notes of iron ore, tilled soil, fungi and underbrush over a core of blackberry preserves, warm plums and cassis with touches of mocha and camphor. Full-bodied and richly fruited in the mouth, it has a firm texture of ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with a compelling mineral lift.

The 2009 Beychevelle has an intriguing bouquet with kirsch, orange blossom, mocha and earthy aromas, taking time to settle down in the glass but eventually achieving fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, well judged acidity, clean and correct, but maybe missing the flair that I have found on later vintages such as 2015 and 2016. It is a very fine Beychevelle but not profound. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits Ten Year On tasting.

The finest Beychevelle since the 2003 and probably since the 1982, Beychevelle’s 2009 is opaque purple in color, with a beautiful, floral nose intermixed with black currant fruit, licorice, cedar wood and Christmas fruitcake. Full-bodied yet still elegant and pure, this wine has velvety tannins, a broad, savory mouthfeel, and a very long finish.

There is plenty of tannin behind the extravagant fruit, glycerin and texture of this wine, but it is largely concealed. This wine could actually turn out to be even better than my relatively conservative tasting note.

Bright ruby. Aromas of dark berries, licorice, bitter chocolate and menthol, with a hint of leather. Densely packed, pliant and glossy, with strong acidity and an herbal element buffering the wine's sweetness. The lightly herbal quality carries through on the long finish, which features dusty tannins and noteworthy energy. A very strong vintage for this property.

Inky purple. Floral aromas of black plum and graphite. Easygoing and fine-grained, with a distinctly cool quality to the blackberry, floral and mint flavors. Pliant in the middle palate but with cedar, floral and herbal notes providing very good lift. Its light touch and suave mouth feel make Beychevelle easy to recognize in a blind tasting with its peers. This attractive wine shows sneaky depth of flavor and finishes with sweet, silky tannins and noteworthy energy. Just misses out on a bit more concentration for a higher score.