Château Beychevelle 2000

Deep ruby/purple in color, with a sweet nose of black currants, earth, licorice, and mineral, the 2000 is relatively powerful and dense for the normally restrained and elegant Beychevelle. Medium to full-bodied, dense, and chewy, it is showing even better out of bottle than it was from cask. While it appears to be the finest example made at Beychevelle since the 1989 and 1982, patience will be required. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2020.

Lovely warmed plum and black currant confiture flavors are starting to settle into a secondary phase as sweet tobacco, lightly singed alder and a perfumy incense note weave around. Nice focused, fine-grained finish. Textbook. -- Blind 2000 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2015). Drink now through 2020. 2,200 cases made.

If any wine could be described as beautiful, then Beychevelle is beautiful. Its flavors of liquorice and blackcurrant are smooth and opulent, well proportioned. The texture is rich, ripe and generous.

Mid crimson with lots of sweetness. Very gentle and a definite 2000. Good vintage definition from Beychevelle! Easy and only very slightly inky. Long and rich. (JR)

Good ruby-red. Exotic, highly aromatic nose features leather, cedar, roast coffee, minerals and chocolate. Smooth on entry, then a bit pinched in the mid-palate, with a faint peppery herbaceousness. Not overly tannic but seems a bit dry for a 2000.

The nose offers tobacco, blackberry, cassis, wet earth, cedar chest and cassis. On the palate, the wine is firm, fresh and traditional. This is well made and developing nicely, but there is a lack of excitement in the wine that would make me want to open another bottle. Tasters that prefer less ripe, lean, traditional or classic Bordeaux wine, will like this a lot more than I did.

Deep purple-garnet, with lilac reflections at the rim. A refined, finely structured bouquet with a spicy Cabernet character, tobacco, liquorice and dark caramel. On the palate, a clearly emerging Cabernet touch, with hints of bell pepper and black pepper, mingled with blueberry notes; elegant in style and may still gain further depth.

01: Dark purple garnet, with lilac reflections on the rim. A noble, finely textured bouquet with spicy Cabernet notes, tobacco, licorice, and dark caramel. On the palate, the Cabernet touch comes through even more clearly, taking on hints of bell pepper and black pepper, mingled with blueberries. It stays on the elegant side and may still improve. 17/20 2005 – 2020

Green, spicy, elegant bouquet: red berries, woody notes, ivy. Rather slender palate with delicate aromatics, sandy tannins and a sweet finish. 17/20 drink by 2020.

Intensity and depth, this shows just how well built the 2000 vintage was in its youth, and how slowly it has come around. Now at the point where the tannins are starting to melt into the structure but still very much cradling the fruit. Cigar box and tobacco leaf, grilled coffee beans and mandarin peel, plenty of blackberry and bilberry fruits, great quality, full of St Julien finesse, ready to drink but with decades ahead, love this, and it's an upscore from my last tasting as it comes into its drinking window. Harvest September 22 to October 10, 60% new oak, 53hl/h yield.

The 2000 Beychevelle is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep brick in color, it opens with notes of sweaty leather and stewed plums followed by hints of charcuterie, black pepper, dusty soil, and dried herbs with a medicinal waft in the background. Medium-bodied, the palate has plenty of dried black berry flavors on the mid-palate with chewy, rugged tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing a little rustic.

This Saint-Julien is developing harmoniously and elegantly, with classic notes of spice and fresh fruit. The tannins are well integrated, and the finish is balanced and gentle. A delicious bottle that can already be enjoyed.

The 2000 makes a classic pairing with the 2001. On the nose, aromas of tobacco, ferns and verbena herbal tea emerge. The palate is clean, flowing and very supple, with a slightly drying finish.

Medium garnet-red with violet highlights. A very inviting bouquet, with good intensity, marked by aromas of blackberries, spices and graphite, with a touch of caramel and coffee. The attack is juicy and lively. This wine has real pedigree and is perfectly supported by its tannins. It delivers fine aromatic expression through to the finish. Not a sprinter, but more of a marathon runner we may have lost from view a little too quickly... it’s in great shape!

Deep red colour. Medium to good intensity. Beautiful. On the nose, a touch of roasted coffee. Smoky. Fruity. A hint of alcohol. This is very good! Supple, fruity yet well-structured, this wine develops a juicy palate with ripe, silky tannins. A lovely, velvety finish with flavours of blackcurrant and ink. A perfectly balanced marriage of fruit and oak. This is very good.