Château Beychevelle 2023

Pure fruit to this, with blueberries, hazelnuts, walnut and blackcurrants. Just like eating grapes at this stage. It has a full body, juicy tannins and a savory finish. Remains vivid and energetic.

61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot. The symbiosis of fruit, floral nuances, spices and ageing is perfect! The bouquet is generous and full-bodied. The dense attack paves the way for a full-bodied and lively wine. The tannins are both fleshy and supple, and combine with the acidity to give structure. Only the finish needs more aromatic expression, which the ageing will provide. An imposing gourmet wine... in short, a wine with character! 2029-2058

Château Beychevelle, known for its elegance in Médoc, once again showcases its deep appreciation for purity in the 2023 vintage. The mouth feeling, akin to chilled panna cotta, effortlessly touches my palate. Although lacking complexity, it remains profoundly moving. The fruitiness of this vintage isn’t as lavish as before, with strawberry, raspberry, and cherry aromas somewhat restrained. The anticipated “fruit paradise” is yet to fully blossom. Moreover, for Beychevelle, famed for its subtle tannins, the finish of 2023 is a bit dry, looking forward to its evolution after aging.

The 2023 Beychevelle has turned out especially well this year, exhibiting a more integrated, seductive style than recent vintages that were constructed in a punchier, more extracted register. Offering up aromas of cassis and plums mingled with notions of pen ink, violets and pencil shavings, it's medium to full-bodied, broad and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit and a classy, suave profile that foregrounds the estate's prime vineyard holdings on the plateau around Ducru-Beaucaillou. It's a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot that represents 50% of the estate's production. William Kelley