Chateau Beychevelle 2021

Weinwisser: "Intensives Bouquet, reife dunkle Kirsche, Preiselbeergelee, frische Marokkominze und üppige Fliedernoten. Am tiefgründigen Gaumen mit weicher Textur, sandigem Extrakt, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett und drahtigem Körper. Im konzentriert fein aromatischen Finale Wildkirsche, Estragon, Olivenpaste und fein mürbe Adstringenz gepaart mit edler Salznote. Potentialwertung!"

Decanter: "Darkly herbal, spiced and perfumed nose. Supple, fruity, forward and lively, this has an initial vivacious and pulsing energy that settles giving some green pepper, eucalyptus and cedar notes as well as liquorice and clove which then dominate the finish. It starts well, with such pace, and you feel the fruit has been well worked with tannins that are silky and fine. This has density and chew which I love as well as structure and backbone wine overall finesse. Great potential here."

Galloni: "The 2021 Beychevelle is rich and sumptuous, but not quite as pushed in that direction as some recent vintages have been. Then again, that sort of opulence was simply not possible in 2021. Even so, the 2021 flows with dark blue/purplish fruit, incense, espresso, mocha, menthol and licorice. All the elements are so well balanced. The 2021 is a terrific Beychevelle with a bright future."

Wine Cellar Insider: "The nose starts off with dark currants, tobacco leaf, espresso, flowers, herbs, and black cherries. Medium-bodied, sweet, soft, and fresh, there is a peppery, spicy touch on the backend, along with a hint of refreshing spearmint that adds to the vibrant, sweet, red fruits in this classically styled wine. The wine blends 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, pH 3.7, the harvest took place September 25 – October 11. The yields were 50 hectoliters with 54% of the harvest going into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2025-2050."

Wine Advocate: "The 2021 Beychevelle is a strong effort, exhibiting aromas of sweet berries and plums mingled with cigar wrapper and fresh mint. Medium to full-bodied, bright and fine-boned, it's deep and layered, with powdery tannins, lively acids and a saline finish. This wine only improved over the five times I tasted it."

Dunnuck: "From the southern edge of the appellation and a blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it sports a vivid purple hue to go with terrific aromatics of darker fruits, tobacco, roasted coffee, and loamy earth. This round, medium-bodied, plump, forward, yet undeniably delicious 2021 is going to drink nicely right out of the gate. Harvest here spanned from the September 27 to October 8, and the wine will spend 18 months in roughly 70% new French oak."

Falstaff: "Dunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine dunkle Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von Brombeeren und Cassis, zart mit Vanille und Nougat unterlegt. Komplex, saftig, reife Zwetschken, gut integrierte Tannine, schokoladiger Nachhall, gutes Reifepotenzial."

Neal Martin: "The 2021 Beychevelle has a pleasant, light bouquet that needs coaxing from the glass, eventually offering blackberry, briar, peppermint and sage aromas. The oak here is neatly integrated, though it does not possess the dimension of the previous vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a firm grip on the entry. The Cabernet Sauvignon is fully in the driving seat here, imparting quite intense blackberry and graphite notes. As with many Saint-Julien barrel samples, a Pauillac-like structure comes through. The licorice-tinged finish is fresh and focused. This is quite an endearing Beychevelle after the challenging growing season."

Suckling: "Blueberry and some chocolate and berry character. Medium body, fine tannins and a fresh, medium finish."

Perroti-Brown: "A blend of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Beychevelle is deep garnet-purple colored. It sings of raspberry coulis, Morello cherries, and blackcurrant pastilles with hints of roses and forest floor. Light to medium-bodied, the palate is tightly knit with grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long with mineral and floral sparks."