2009 Ch. Beychevelle, St. Julien

Ch. Beychevelle’s 2009 has a beautiful nose of ripe bramble fruit and dark cassis and a smooth but highly concentrated palate of both red and black fruits. The Merlot content (44%) is surprisingly well-balanced here, considering the turbo-charged nature of some of the Right Bank wines. Beychevelle have blended it perfectly with their 46% Cabernet Sauvignon and a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to make a truly harmonious wine.

Deep purple red, fine crushed blackcurrants, attractive dense fruit and already a touch of complexity, good ripeness and depth, freshness and fine Saint-Julien elegance.
(Steven Spurrier - Decanter - Apr 2010)

Pretty dark crimson right out to the rim. Alluring graphite notes on the nose. Fresh and mild. Not dramatic but neat and pretty. Very sweet but with the tannins in check. Though it will take a little while for them to dissipate. Real juice and concentration though.
(Jancis Robinson MW, jancisrobinson.com - Apr 2010)

The finest Beychevelle since the 2003 and probably since the 1982, Beychevelle’s 2009 is opaque purple in color, with a beautiful, floral nose intermixed with black currant fruit, licorice, cedar wood and Christmas fruitcake. Full-bodied yet still elegant and pure, this wine has velvety tannins, a broad, savory mouthfeel, and a very long finish.

There is plenty of tannin behind the extravagant fruit, glycerin and texture of this wine, but it is largely concealed. This wine could actually turn out to be even better than my relatively conservative tasting note. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2042.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - Feb 2012)

Sweet berry and floral aromas, with a creamy undertone. Full-bodied, with a dense and polished palate, fine tannins and a long finish. Best since 2000?
(James Suckling - Wine Spectator - Apr 2010)