Chateau Beychevelle 4eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 2010

This 2010 just nudges the 2009 for me in terms of future potential if you are looking to cellar over the long term. Has depth and silky tannins, layers of bitter black chocolate, tea, cocoa bean, espresso, salted cracker, rosemary, sage, anis, and aromatics of crushed roses as it opens. Great quality, a ton of complexity. 60% new oak for ageing, September 27 to October 13 for harvest.

Showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it was also impressive, but not quite at this level, the 2010 Beychevelle displays sweet black currant, black cherry, foresty notes, medium to full-bodied texture with impressive purity and moderately high tannins although they’ve softened considerably during the wine’s upbringing in barrel). Layered and rich for a Beychevelle, this wine should easily withstand three decades of cellaring. I would give it another 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is a fabulous effort from the first chateau one sees upon entering the appellation of St.-Julien.
94

Flowery blueberry, red and black currant fruit notes intermixed with a hint of damp earth emerge from this wine’s moderate aromatics. Elegant with medium body as well as a classic Beychevelle style with high tannins and a more restrained structure, the elevated tannins suggest 7-8 years of cellaring will be necessary.
90-92

The 2010 Beychevelle has a very intense bouquet packed full of black fruit laced with liquorice, tobacco and violet scents. Maybe it would benefit from a little more delineation? The palate is medium-bodied with lithe tannins and well judged acidity. The texture is grainy, especially towards the finish that shows impressive grip and depth. Like other Saint-Juliens, this will benefit from more time in the glass. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting.

Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Beychevelle comes roaring out of the glass with bombastic scents of baked blackcurrants, plum preserves and Black Forest cake plus touches of potpourri, cedar chest and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has evolved black fruit flavors and a firm, chewy texture, finishing with nice freshness and a spicy kick.

Mineral, lemon grass and berries on the nose. Full bodied, with ultra-fine tannins and a wonderful finish. Lasts for minutes. This is the best Beychevelle in years. Maybe decades.

Good deep red. Lively aromas of cassis, black cherry, licorice and flowers. Gripping and energetic, with captivating flowers and spices lifting the medicinal dark berry, licorice and mineral flavors. More intense than usual for this property: the tannins are serious but suave and this very youthful wine appears to have the density of material for two or three decades of evolution in bottle. It may well ultimately merit a higher score.

(a blend of 54% cabernet sauvignon, 38% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot) Dark ruby-red with purple highlights. Floral a romas of red cherry, blackcurrant, licorice and tar. At once smooth, sweet and nicely delineated, with good lift to the delicate, lightly saline red berry, sassafrass and white pepper flavors. Finishes with sweet tannins and sneaky persistence. As usual, Beychevelle is not a blockbuster and left me wondering if it couldn't be just a bit more concentrated, but this 2010 seems to have more stuffing than usual. The high percentage of merlot gives it early appeal.