2016 Beychevelle

97 POINTS

Neal Martin - Wine Advocate

The 2016 Beychevelle is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc cropped at 45 hectoliters per hectare between 3 October and 18 October. It is matured in 50% new oak. Furthermore, it is the first vintage to be matured in the new chichi winery whose glass exterior overlooks the passing traffic on the D2. It has a very pure, fragrant bouquet with black cherries, cassis, cedar and wet limestone, extremely precise to the point where you might think it was from the Right Bank (logical given the proportion of Merlot in the blend). The palate is sensational: understated at first and bridled with ultra-fine tannin, it is a Beychevelle armed with a disarming sense of symmetry. It builds in the mouth towards a fabulously tensile finish that is so fresh and full of energy that the senses are almost overwhelmed. Frankly, it leaves all the other Beychevelles in recent years standing. This is an electrifying 2016 from winemaker Philippe Blanc and his right-hand man, technical director, Romain Ducolomb.

97 POINTS

Jeff Leve - The Wine Cellar Insider

A blue-black deep red, nearly opaque, this the sexiest wine ever created at Beychevelle. The nose moves with cassis, tobacco, cigar box, flowers, boysenberry and dark chocolate. The fruit has unbelievable length, purity, density and silk sheets for tannins — grand style and character here. This is the first vintage produced in their gleaming, brand new, state-of-the-art cellars. Made from blending 47% Cabernet Sauvignon , 47% Merlot , 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc , the wine reached 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.62. The Grand Vin represents just 60% of the harvest, which took place from October 3 to October 15, the latest harvest in the history of Beychevelle.

96 POINTS

Yves Beck - Yvesbeck.wine

Pourpre violacé. Nez intense, complexe, juvénile, marqué par des notes de baies et d'élevage. Beaucoup de subtilité. Au palais, le vin est friand et rond. Il a de l'ampleur, du jus et une structure rafraîchissante. Les tannins sont parfaitement intégrés et forment une belle symbiose avec la vivacité du palais. Un vin qui a beaucoup de finesse et de puissance. Il a besoin de passer du temps en cave avant d'être savouré. Finale persistante. Très belle réussite. 2024-2056 96/100

96 POINTS

Neal Martin - Vinous

The 2016 Beychevelle has a stunning bouquet of vibrant, shimmering blackberry and wild strawberry fruit laced with crushed stone and rose petals. The well-balanced palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and a slightly savory/dried blood finish that lingers in the mouth. Tasting both in London and in Bordeaux, I found the latter bottle to have a little more precision and race on the finish. This will surely be a benchmark for this Saint Julien estate.

96 POINTS

Jeb Dunnuck

I was able to taste the 2016 Château Beychevelle on two occasions, and it showed beautifully both times. This is also the first vintage made in the new cellar. Medium to full-bodied, incredibly seamless and elegant on the palate, yet beautifully concentrated, it offers a heavenly perfume of spring flowers, violets, saddle leather, and blueberry and cassis fruit. A blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and the rest Cabernet Franc, brought up in 50% new oak, it’s still tight, taunt, and reserved on the palate, yet has the hallmark purity of fruit and balance of the vintage front and center. Hide bottles for 4-6 years, and it will keep for 25+ years or more.

96 POINTS

Bettane & Desseauve - Bettane & Desseauve

Remarquable par sa densité de couleur et la pureté de son fruit, matière proportionnellement plus impressionnante à ce stade qu’en 2009 et 2010.

95 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

Barrel Sample. With tannins that are beautifully integrated into the rich black-fruit flavors, this is already a well-balanced wine. It is solid and will last, though the attractiveness of the fruit is already there.

95 POINTS

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW - Wine Advocate

The 2016 Beychevelle is comprised of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. It spent 18 months aging in 50% new and 50% second-use barrels. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little broody to begin, opening slowly to reveal subtle savory notes of dried herbs, charcuterie and black olives before breaking through to a profound core of warm cassis, baked black plums, red currant jelly and candied violets. The palate is medium-bodied and delicately played with a quiet intensity of tightly wound nuances and fantastic freshness, finishing with a lingering savory lift. This latent beauty will require a bit more time than most 2016s, but promises to over-deliver to those prepared to wait. Around 19,000 cases were made.