2015 Beychevelle

95 POINTS

Jeb Dunnuck

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.

94 POINTS

Neal Martin - Wine Advocate

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.

94 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2015 Beychevelle has a fresh blackberry and briary bouquet of impressive delineation and vigor; hints of smoke and pencil shavings emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, wonderful tension and an almost effervescent, nervous finish that leaves a tongue-tingling dash of black pepper in its wake. So much potential here. As I have written before, this is one of Philippe Blanc's great Beychevelles. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

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.

94 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

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.

93 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

Barrel Sample. This wine shows fine black fruit tones along with peppery tannins. It has a light touch, with lively acidity and a pure-fruit tones cut by a dry core. 93 points

93 POINTS

James Molesworth - Wine Spectator

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. 20,500 cases made.  –JM