Château Beychevelle 2023, St Julien
Recommended
IN BOND
Delivery 2026
Appellation - St Julien
Owner - Castel and Suntory
61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot
Second wine – Amiral de Beychevelle
Annual production – 500,000 bottles
TASTING NOTES
The 2023 Beychevelle has turned out especially well this year, exhibiting a more integrated, seductive style than recent vintages that were constructed in a punchier, more extracted register. Offering up aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pen ink, violets and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit and a classy, suave profile that foregrounds the estate's prime vineyard holdings on the plateau around Ducru-Beaucaillou. It's a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot that represents 50% of the estate's production.
93/94
William Kelley, Wine Advocate, April 2024
The 2023 Beychevelle was picked from September 13 through October 6 over 17 days of harvest, partly because of the size of the crop and not having to rush. It has the highest proportion of Merlot under winemaker Philippe Blanc (35%), and it matured in 70% new oak. This has a notably floral and tightly-knit bouquet, leaning a little more toward blue fruit than other Saint-Julien wines tasted from barrel. The oak is nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with strict tannins that impart a sense of linearity. Very saline, this is a saliva-inducing Beychevelle, lightly spiced with a structured, almost Pauillac-like finish. Excellent.
92/94
Neal Martin, vinous.com, April 2024
Pure fruit to this, with blueberries, hazelnuts, walnut and blackcurrants. Just like eating grapes at this stage. It has a full body, juicy tannins and a savory finish. Remains vivid and energetic.
94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2024
The 2023 Beychevelle represents 50% of this year's crop. Deep garnet-purple in color, it springs with vibrant notes of redcurrant jelly and blackcurrant pastilles giving way to an undercurrent of cranberries, crushed rocks, and wild thyme plus a hint of black olives. The light to medium-bodied palate is refreshing and pure, with a slight chewiness to the well-managed tannins, finishing on a savory note. The blend is 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. This is the highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in Beychevelle ever, following the new plans to include more of this variety.
90/92
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2024
Plummy red fruits, fresh acidities, sculpted tannic architure, this has balance and finesse, white pepper, capsicum spice, black tea, cigar box, liqourice root, rose petals, fine tannins, St Julien balance with a kick of smoked oak on the finish.
94
Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, April 2024
The 2023 Beychevelle is fabulous. As always, Beychevelle includes quite a bit more Merlot than most wines in the appellation, but the Cabernet is especially high here. Inky dark fruit, crème de cassis, mocha, licorice and lavender build in the glass. This juicy, extroverted Saint-Julien has a ton to offer. The combination of fruit intensity, acid and supporting structure is superb. The 2023 is showy, but not at all overdone. Beychevelle remains one of the most distinctive wines in all of Bordeaux. It is especially classy in this edition. Tasted two times. 2033-2063
94/96
Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2024
