Château Beychevelle 2010

One may be dazzled by the extract and richness, but overall this wine lacks precision—especially considering its now high price of over 80 euros. At this admittedly decent level, there are wines that offer far better value for money.

Showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it was also impressive, but not quite at this level, the 2010 Beychevelle displays sweet black currant, black cherry, foresty notes, medium to full-bodied texture with impressive purity and moderately high tannins (although they’ve softened considerably during the wine’s upbringing in barrel). Layered and rich for a Beychevelle, this wine should easily withstand three decades of cellaring. I would give it another 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is a fabulous effort from the first chateau one sees upon entering the appellation of St.-Julien.

Features a gutsy feel, displaying dark, roasted cedar and tobacco notes framing a core of steeped fig, blackberry paste and plum skin that rumbles through the tarry finish. Shows strong grip on the back end, with the briary edge extending nicely. Best from 2016 through 2035.

Firm tannins still at 10 years, clearly showing their quality and flexibility. This is brilliant, with cassis, bilberry, touches of hawthorn and liquorice. An estate that struggled for consistency at times during the 10 years before this, but had begun to settle into far more regular success by this point, and here it is at the top of its game.

Beautiful aromas of blackberries, currants and flowers. Very aromatic. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and gorgeous fruit. It's polished and very refined. One of the best Beychevelles in years. Try in 2018.

Black cherry, attractive oak spice, tight and furry with an imbalanced ratio of bitterness to ripeness on the finish. (RH)

Still youthful, but developing, the wine is focused on its core of ripe, vibrant, classy, and lifted black fruit, with red currants. There is a pronounced freshness and structure here that could use a few more years to soften and fill out. Drink from 2028–2055.

Dark garnet. Delicate sweetness, light woods and wild raspberries, a hint of violet, playful in character. On the palate, creamy, with delicate extract, red cherries in a focused finish. A very elegant, refined, albeit medium-weight Beychevelle.

Dark garnet, fairly dense in the middle, ruby rim. Delicate sweetness, light woods and wild raspberries, a hint of violet, playful impression. On the palate creamy with gentle extract, showing red cherries in the focused finish. A very elegant, fine, albeit medium-weight Beychevelle. Very well vinified. Had not been this convincing at an en primeur tasting for quite a long time. (17/20). 12: Deep, dense purple-ruby. Warm bouquet, seeming somewhat alcoholic at first, showing elderberry and unfortunately also some leafy notes; the spice then offers a conciliatory handshake. On the palate a bit slender for the vintage, fitting tannins; despite the modest start, the wine is surprisingly black-berried on the finish and shows licorice from good Cabernet. Too expensive on the market for its performance. The Chinese love the dragon on the label more than the wine itself. (17/20). 14: The nose is much more convincing than the 2009, which may be developing too quickly. Here we have the mini Pichon-Lalande with lovely sweetness and plenty of blackcurrant, slightly lactic on the attack. Creamy, juicy palate, the acidity is already nicely integrated. Will be fun very soon.

Restrained, austere, spicy bouquet, blue berries, tobacco, old leather. Powerful, classic palate with delicate fruit, good tannins, good aromatics, long, robust finish. 17/20 2018 - 2035

This 2010 just nudges the 2009 for me in terms of future potential if you are looking to cellar over the long term. It has depth and silky tannins, with layers of bitter dark chocolate, tea, cocoa bean, espresso, salted cracker, rosemary, sage, anise, and aromatics of crushed roses as it opens. Great quality, a ton of complexity. 60% new oak for ageing, harvest from September 27 to October 13.

The 2010 Beychevelle is a blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-brick in color, it bursts with bold notes of cigar box, dusty soil, dried mulberries, and fruitcake, plus hints of star anise, Oolong tea, and iron ore. Medium to full-bodied, rich, and densely packed with mature, savory flavors, the palate has a firm, chewy texture with soft acidity and a long if slightly grippy/hard finish. It seems to be maturing more quickly than the 2009.

A lot of finesse and precision in flavor and texture, very well balanced; be careful not to serve it too warm. A greater success than all previous vintages when it comes to the second wine.

The 2010 reveals a more restrained bouquet than the 2009: it is patiently awaiting its moment of glory. Silky, velvety, literally melting on the palate… Simply divine. The “little brother” of 2009 is in fact bigger, finer, and more elegant than its elder. The flavours are highly precise, with notes of black fruit, graphite, and a deliciously chalky texture.

The nose offers elegance, a certain tension, a touch of concentration, a fine grain and a slightly beguiling side. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, fairly ripe blue fruits and, more lightly, fairly ripe raspberry, combined with hints of cornflower and Sichuan pepper, as well as discreet touches of blond tobacco and undergrowth. The palate is fruity, elegant and indulgent, offering minerality, a certain freshness, tension, energy and drive, along with a fine, zesty backbone and a subtle airy feel on the approach. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy blackberry and crushed strawberry, and more lightly cornflower and juicy/pulpy blueberry, combined with touches of fairly ripe raspberry, star anise, lily and violet, as well as hints of sweet spices, dried blond tobacco, a subtle touch of nutmeg and chocolate, an imperceptible hint of clove and an imperceptible hint of truffle (in the background). The tannins are structuring. Good length. (2025+)

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Lovely nose with ripe, vanilla-tinged fruit and a hint of ink. The palate is immediately airy and melting, developing with savory charm, with a lively note after mid-palate that slightly breaks the initial spell, though it remains very good.