Beychevelle 2015 (750ML)

95 JD / 94 WANM / 94 JS / 94 AG / 93 WA / 93 WS / 93 DE / 92-94 GV

Château Beychevelle covers a full 73.5 hectare of vines in Saint-Julien, with Romain Duclomb (of Château Clinet) functioning as the technical director and Eric Boissenot as oenologue. A true gem in the vintage is the 2015 Château Beychevelle which is 47% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 50% new oak. This beauty is loaded with notions of black cherries, leafy herbs, underbrush and hints of violets. Medium to full-bodied, concentrated and opulent on the palate, with fine, ripe tannin, it has all the right components, is intense, pure, and lengthy. Count me in as a fan and it will benefit from short-term cellaring and keep for two decades or more. - Jeb Dunnuck

The 2015 Beychevelle has a wonderful ripe blackberry, boysenberry and cassis-scented bouquet that is very well defined. There is nascent energy and tension spilling out from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with quite opulent black fruit laced with graphite and a splash of soy, but underneath is embedded a firm structure. There is real vivacity and terroir expression on the finish, a Beychevelle with enormous potential. One for those seeking “classic” Saint-Julien. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2045. - Neal Martin

Perfumed red with so much presence and brightness. Flowers, currants and blueberries. Some citrus. Full body, firm and silky tannins and a long and flavorful finish. Very fine and vivid. Better in 2022. - James Suckling

The 2015 Beychevelle comes across as much more powerful and plush in bottle than it did as a barrel sample. The black cherry, smoke, leather, tobacco, spice and incense notes are all endowed with notable textural depth. Voluptuous but also quite tannic, the 2015 is going to need at least a few years to come into its own. Readers should expect a powerful, brooding Saint-Julien. Tasted two times. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

The 2015 Beychevelle is a blend of 47% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot aged 18 months in barrel, 50% of which were new and 50% second fill. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, it's scented of smoked meats, scorched earth, garrigue and new leather with a core of cassis, cherry cordial and plum preserves. The medium-bodied palate is a little firm but delicate, with lovely vibrancy and a bit of grip on the finish. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate

Lovely mulled plum and blackberry fruit glides along a cleanly embedded graphite edge, while violet and anise details skirt along the edges. The finish picks up a tasty ganache coating while keeping the energy up. Rock-solid. Best from 2022 through 2040. - James Molesworth, Wine Spectator

This has a lovely attack but is a little lacking on the mid-palate for such a brilliant château, although the richness of the black fruit returns as it travels towards the finish line. It opens up in the glass, and displays real poise, but the 2014 and 2016 vintages at this property are where the action is. - Decanter

Seems to be improving year by year and this is a superb example of the property, rich, ripe tannins and an elegance and freshness. GVWM