Chateau Beychevelle 2016

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deep in color, truffle, tobacco, herbs, cigar box and dark red fruits are already in play. The wine is full-bodied, deep, concentrated with a non-stop wave of black fruit that adds another dimension. Clearly this is polished, powerful, elegant and fresh with lift, complexity and a finish that keeps on going. Give this at least a decade and enjoy it over the next 30-40 years!"

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."

THE 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 it promises to overdeliver to those prepared to wait. Around 19,000 cases were made."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, dezente Randaufhellung, mit dezenter Kräuterwürze unterlegte Cassisnuancen, reife schwarze Kirschen klingen an, ein Hauch Tabak. Saftig, gute Komplexität, dunkle Beerenfrucht, gut integrierte Tannine, schwarzbeeriger Nachhall, extraktsüßer Rückgeschmack, gutes Reifepotenzial."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Stacks of cassis, graphite and smoke on the nose of this rather full-bodied St.-Julien with a ton of velvety tannins that drive the long finish that’s simultaneously sweet, fresh and powdery. Try in 2022."

DECANTER: "This is the first wine made in Beychevelle´s new cellars, and when I tasted it at the chateau in July it was excellent, scoring higher than here. This time around we tasted two bottles, as there was a query over brett in the first one. Compared to the July tasting, it´s a little bit more difficult to unravel this time around, although there are rich black fruits and attractive layers of frangipane and tar, with high-toned acidity that lifts and sculpts. The tannins do an excellent job of holding all this in place. Matured in 50% new oak. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Now with a brand-new, see-through glass winery, this estate is showing its true elegance. The wine does not have great power but it offers a ripe, smooth, sophisticated texture and black fruits. It already shows delicious flavors that will improve. Drink from 2025."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This has a slightly beefy edge, with warmed plum and blackberry paste flavors pumping through. Shows a touch of heft on the back end, with dark tobacco and earth notes leaving a subtly chewy feel, though there's ample fruit to soak that up. Best from 2024 through 2038. 19,167 cases made."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur mit schwarzer Mitte und violettem Rand. Viel Cassis und Brombeerblüten, dahinter süsslicher Kirschtabak. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit engmaschigem Körper und feinmehligem Extrakt. Langes, aromatisches Finale, das mit feiner Adstringenz endet. Kann an den Erfolg vom Vorjahr anknüpfen."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Purple fruits and lots of come-hither opulence followed by some green leafiness. One of the more immediately charming St-Julien 2018s."