Chateau Beychevelle 1996
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The finesse and complexity of a fine Saint-Julien red wine
The estate
Chateau Beychevelle, a superb estate with magnificent gardens, is one of the most prestigious estates in the Saint-Julien appellation, located on the left bank of the Bordeaux region. Chateau Beychevelle’s style is defined by its consistent and excellent-quality wines. Powerful, full, structured, they elegantly express the finesse of the fine Saint-Julien terroir. Chateau Beychevelle's wines are ageworthy wines and evolve superbly with time.
The vineyard
The specificity of the terroir of Chateau Beychevelle is due to its magnificent Garonne gravelly slopes and the close proximity to the Gironde Estuary, which regulates and protects the climate. The vineyard is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.
The tasting
This Chateau Beychevelle 1996 exudes a seductive freshness, refinement and offers delicate tannins.
The 1996 Beychevelle was served from double magnum at the property. The nose is fully mature with touches of mushroom, leather and sous-bois, though not quite as complex as say the 1996 Ducru Beaucaillou. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp acidity, though it is not as refined or as nuanced as its peers. This is from a period where I think that Beychevelle was not firing on all cylinders and I have been scathing with my reviews in the past. Even here it lags behind its peers, something that I feel has been rectified in recent vintages by Philippe Blanc and his team. Tasted July 2016.