Castle Beychevelle - Saint-Julien 2014

Le Point

14,5-15 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/21/2015

Mentholé, cerise, bouche souple, bien fruitée, droite, pas très dense en milieu de bouche, finale serrée, séveuse, tanins du merlot. 

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2015

A big, powerful wine for the year, the 2014 Beychevelle is going to need quite a bit of time to fully come together. Today, the 2014 is quite bold, with notable concentration and overall intensity. Lavender, mint, spices, cedar and new leather are all nicely delineated. It will be interesting to see if the 2014 fleshes out a bit more from here. Tasted two times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-94 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/5/2015

This is a beauty. This wine possesses ample depth and intensity, setting a new standard of quality for Beychevelle. Dense, long and voluptuous, arousing the senses with a sweet kiss of sun-warmed currants and dark chocolate, this is by far the most concentrated, supple wine that the estate has ever produced. The finish really lingers with its layers of fruit. With 51% Merlot in the blend, it’s the highest percentage of Merlot used in the history of the estate. That is paired with 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. The wine reached 14.05% alcohol with a pH of 3.64. The Grand Vin represents 68% of the crop. 93 – 94 Pts

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2015

The Château Beychevelle 2014 is a blend of 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, 51% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc. You might notice the high percentage of Merlot. This is because of the flowering, decisions made during blending and the low yield of the Cabernet Sauvignon. It was cropped at 38 hectoliters per hectare between 25 September and 14 October during what the estate recorded as the driest September since 1961. That Merlot governs the aromatics here, the fruit clearly towards the red side of the fruit spectrum: cranberry and wild strawberry, almost Right Bank in style. The palate is ripe and fleshy, nicely defined with tensile tannins. I appreciate the nascent harmony here, with fine precision and a long sustained finish with fine salinity. You could argue that pinning your hopes on Merlot when so many others proselytize Cabernet Sauvignon was a risk however, in this showing it was a risk that was worth taking. "Pomerol does Saint Julien" perhaps? It seems to work on what may be the most seductive Beychevelle for years.

Asian Palate

92-93 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2015

Focused and intense with wonderful layers of concentrated flavors - dark plum, cassis and savory spices. Polished and supple with tannins that caress the palate. An impressive Beychevelle that shows the level of investment and work being done in the winery and cellar recently.

Decanter.com

17 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/17/2015

Fine florality and black fruits on the nose then classy and classic St-Julien flavours. Has fleshed out a bit from the past – an attractively elegant, well-expressed wine. Drink: 2019-2030 (90)

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2015

Light nose. Sweet start. A little reminiscent of the Haut-Médocs I have just been tasting. Not one of the most energetic or convincing St-Juliens though perfectly serviceable. Just slightly hollow. 

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/10/2015

A firm and austere young red now but there's serious fruit and mineral character underneath. Full body, chewy tannins and a long finish.

timatkin.com

91 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/7/2015

René Gabriel

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/1/2015

Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Schönes Cassis- und Maulbeerenbouquet, dies mit einer schönen Tiefe anzeigend. Im Gaumen mit Black Currant und eine ziemlich tolle Konzentration zeigend. Selten hat mich ein Beychevelle beim Primeur so überzeugt. Für mich ist dieser mindestens so gut wie seine eigenen Jahrgänge 2009 und 2010! 17/20 2020 – 2042

Wine Enthusiast

94 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/1/2015

93–95. Barrel Sample. With fresh acidity over the delicious black currant fruits, this is a fine wine. It has enough weight and structure in its strongly tannic background to give great promise for the future, though it is so balanced now.

Wine Spectator

91-94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2015

Well-packed, with plum cake, bramble, blueberry patch and anise notes, all allied to a graphite edge on the finish. Racy acidity underscores everything.
Rock-solid.