Château Beychevelle 2018

Falstaff

Dark ruby with purple reflections, brightening at the rim. Cassis is underlaid with tangerine zest and a hint of liquorice on the floral bouquet, which also has some lavender, and inviting nuances. It is juicy and elegant, with ripe cherries, savoury, supporting tannins - there is still some tannin on the finish, and a ripe cherry aftertaste. Needs time, good ageing potential. (2025-2045)

VertdeVin

The nose is fresh, elegant, finely tight and offers a grain, deepness, a certain intensity/power and a certain delicacy. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, small ripe/Fresh black fruits and small notes of fresh cherry, violet associated with touches of small wild fruits, zan, sweet spices, a very discreet hint of mild tobacco and tobacco. The palate is fruity and offers richness, a beautiful freshness, minerality as well as a good definition, concentration, a beautiful grain and a fine unctuosity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy creamy raspberry, crushed cassis and small notes of creamy raspberry associated with touches of fresh strawberry, violet, cornflower as well as hints of tonka bean, caramelization, discreet hints of vanilla and a subtle hint of green cardamom. A fine sapidity on the finish/persistence. A wine full of balance between concentration and delicacy.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

The nose starts off with flowers, tobacco leaf, thyme, black currants, blackberries, cedar and wet earth. Deep in color, the wine is full-bodied, with a serious depth of flavor culminating in its rich, round, concentrated long, elegant, fruit-filled finish. This will age and evolve for at least 25-30 years. The wine blends 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.

Adrian van Velsen - vvWine.ch

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Aged for around 18 months in barrel, 60% new and 40% second fill, the 2018 Beychevelle needs a fair bit of swirling to release classic notes of cassis, plum preserves and ripe blackberries, with emerging suggestions of unsmoked cigars, tilled soil and cedar chest, plus a waft of pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is still very tightly wound, offering finely packed black fruit and earthy layers within a frame of firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. This will need a good 5-6 years to come around and then will drink beautifully over the next 20+ years.

Jeb Dunnuck

The flagship 2018 Château Beychevelle is a more serious, concentrated, focused wine that still has that classic Saint-Julien purity of fruit as well as a wealth of fruit. Gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, chocolate-covered blueberries, violets, spring flowers, tobacco leaf, and cedar notes all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with sweet tannins, moderate acidity, and a great, great finish. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it's one of the sexiest, most up-front and irresistible wines in the vintage. Don't let that scare you, though; it's going to drink beautifully for 2-3 decades.

James Suckling

Currants and blackberries with crushed stone and fresh herbs. Some flower stem, too. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and linear with firm, driven tannins. This needs four or five years of bottle age to open and come together. Try after 2025.