Château Beychevelle 2020

Particularly fruity, with lovely notes of chocolate as well; juicy and fruity on the palate, first-class tannins, powerful even, with a potent finish; deserves its 17 points.

Delivers vivid fruit, with an eye-catching beam of cassis, kirsch and plum sauce notes that flow through nicely, supported by a light brambly edge and a well-inlaid graphite spine. The finish is scored by violet and anise as the fruit lingers. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2037.

Scented and perfumed—violet tones, almost a touch of liqueur fruit on the nose, aromatic with dark chocolate notes too. Bright and shining, this is sleek, with a fairly delicate texture, yet layered with savory elements—licorice, clove, tobacco—alongside bright red fruits and dark bramble fruits. Clean and compelling. Well made with plenty of confidence. So complete, juicy in a heady, seductive way, it’s deeply scented, driven and brooding, yet perfectly weighted to stay on the right side of too heavy. Refreshing but devilishly charming—it leaves a clean feeling in the mouth that makes you want to taste it again.

A very polished and refined 2020 with a medium body, integrated tannins and a pretty texture. Nice currant, light chocolate and cedar undertones. Fresh finish. Drink after 2026.

Full bottle 1,245 g. Cask sample taken 31 March. 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. Concentrated purple. Headily aromatic with mulberry perfume and just a hint of oak. Silky tannins and marked freshness. Neat and the opposite of opulent. Classic wine for the table. (JR)

The 2020 Beychevelle is a wild, exotic beauty. Blackberry jam, gravel, crushed rocks, menthol and espresso ristretto give Beychevelle its flamboyant personality. All the elements are so well balanced in this full-throttle, hugely enjoyable Saint-Julien. The 2020 is lights out.

The nose opens with a gorgeous display of flowers, chocolate, tobacco, black currants, blackberries, licorice, wet forest floor and espresso. As good as the perfume is, the wine is all about its layers of creamy, fresh, sweet, ripe, dark red pit fruits on the palate. The wine is full-bodied, elegant, lifted and refined, with length and purity to top it all off. The wine should age effortlessly for 3 decades, yet drink well, relatively early. Drink from 2025-2060.

Dark ruby garnet, purple reflections, opaque core, delicate rim brightening. Attractive black cherry fruit, fine cassis, a touch of herbal savouriness, delicate background with liquorice. Juicy, fresh red cherry, sweet plum, silky, ripe tannins, mineral-salty finish, delicate, approachable style, balanced and long lasting. (2028-2045).

Floral and elegant aromas, violet, ripe dark berries, fine tobacco and mild oak. Good volume with a finely rounded texture and grainy tannins, fluid and succulent fruit, good purity and a long, bright finish.

The Grand Vin 2020 Château Beychevelle is a tiny selection representing just 55% of the estate’s total production. The blend is 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in 70% new French oak, coming in at 13.5% natural alcohol. Surpassing both 2016 and 2018, this inky-hued Saint-Julien offers a round, lush, full-bodied style with gorgeous aromatics of black cherries, blueberries, loamy earth, chocolate, and spring flowers. The vintage doesn’t get any sexier, and this has sweet tannins, an opulent mouthfeel, and riveting purity and finesse. While it already offers pleasure, it will benefit from 4–6 years of bottle age and will keep for 25+.

Kunz barrel sample 2021: fresh, fragrant, floral bouquet, red cassis, cherries, balsa wood, mocha. Silky, delicate palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, refined structure, sweet aromatics, medium finish.

Fresh, fragrant, floral bouquet, red cassis, cherries, balsa wood, mocha. Silky, fine palate with sweet fruit, fine tannins, refined structure, sweet aromatics, medium finish. 17/20 2025 - 2040

Brambled fruit, muscular but nicely integrated tannic architecture, cocoa bean and blackberry, well put together, skilful and enjoyable, cassis and cloves, grilled toast and sandalwood. Suggest giving the traditional ten years in bottle before opening, and it should stay on its plateau for another few decades after that. Harvest September 14 to 29, 47 hl/ha yield, 60% new oak for ageing.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2020 Beychevelle leaps with vibrant notes of crushed blackcurrants, juicy black plums, and black raspberries with fragrant hints of pencil shavings, dried roses, and aniseed. Medium-bodied, the palate is refined and elegant with bright acidity and fine-grained tannins, finishing long and earthy.

95-96

The cru delivers a wine of great brilliance, with generous fruit and a delicate texture. The whole is complete, balanced, and very classically “Saint-Julien.” The silky texture ushers in an admirable finish that lingers with freshness.

A heady, fragrant bouquet with precise, shimmering aromas reminiscent of summer meadows. There are also notes of ferns and tea leaves. The palate follows through clear, voluptuous, and enticing, with a fruit density that grows softer. A harmonious, powerful whole that culminates in splendor, revealing spicy, chocolatey notes on a silky finish. A truly great wine.

When a wine reveals notes of grape pomace, there’s a certain logic to it… and yet it’s not that common! At the same time, Beychevelle shows nuances of cherries, violets, and Sichuan pepper… reassuring indeed! And to crown it all, we find notes of cedar and graphite. The freshness of Cabernet Sauvignon is a lifesaver, as is often the case in hot, dry years. The wine also stands out for its ability to place finesse and power on equal footing; the fine-grained tannins provide solid support and lend a vigor capable of carrying the wine through several decades.

Expressive nose of violet and wild blackberry, showing a lovely overall cohesion with a muscular profile. The palate is straight and well-tensioned, marked by meticulously defined tannins and, above all, highlighted by a beautiful, mouthwatering vibrancy. A lovely distinction, very Beychevelle, in a vintage that wasn’t easy to handle.

94–96. Barrel Sample. The wine's structure and serious tannins are, happily, balanced by the rich generosity of the fruit flavors. Together, the two elements of this very fine wine will allow it to develop with weight and concentration.