Château Beychevelle Saint-Julien 2011 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This magnificent property, boasting one of the most elegant architectural styles in the Médoc region, has long been nicknamed "the little Versailles." It is named after Admiral de Beychevelle, governor of Guyenne under Henry III. Owned by the family of Aymar-Achille Fould, minister under General de Gaulle, it was then acquired in the late 2000s by the Castel and Suntory groups. The new winery and the resources given to the excellent director Philippe Blanc have enabled this château, famous in Asia and the rest of the world, which explains its high prices, to fully express one of the finest terroirs in the Médoc. Aristocratic aromas and texture, lovely suppleness linked to the appellation's best Merlots, but with the freshness and distinct cedar character of the Cabernets from the area. The 2016 will go down in history.

Decanter

About wine:

A lovely open structure at the moment, with soft fruits such as raspberry and redcurrant. The wine is open, frank, and pleasant to drink. It opens up nicely on the fruit through to the mid-palate and there is tons of potential, with a spicy finish. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Yield of 39.5 hl/ha.  2021 - 2038

Guide Hachette des vins

About wine:

Tannic and elegant, the 2011 is a beautiful classic from the appellation. Its deep garnet color inspires confidence, as does its bouquet. Refined and complex, it evokes vanilla, mocha, and red fruits. A fresh and fruity attack opens onto a generous, rich, and powerful palate, which stretches into a long finish with flavors of chocolate and coffee cream.

About the estate:

The "Versailles of Bordeaux." Beychevelle is a little gem of classical architecture. Its prestige also comes from the powerful families who owned it. Its name is said to come from a great French admiral, the Duke of Épernon under Henry III, who demanded that ships passing in front of his castle "lower their sails" as a sign of allegiance. Founded in the 17th century and developed in the 18th century, its vineyard (90 hectares) has evolved considerably, which explains its current dispersion throughout the AOC. In 2017, it acquired a new winery designed by Arnaud Boulain. Owned since 2011 by the Suntory and Castel groups, it is managed by Philippe Blanc.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Since 2011, this iconic Saint-Julien estate has been owned half by Pierre Castel and half by the Japanese group Suntory. It enjoys an excellent reputation, consistently producing elegant and easy-drinking wines. While not the most expressive, they also age very well. Like many Médoc wines, the château has brought its winemaking facilities up to date and seems to be making further progress in the precision of its wines.

Wine Spectator

About wine:

A typical St-Julien, offering tight layers of black plum, blackcurrant, and blackberry, with a solid backbone of graphite and notes of black tar and pastis on the finish. A well-constructed and confident wine. Drink from 2017 to 2027.

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

This impressive wine follows a straight line of structure, acidity, firm tannins, and dark black fruit. The combination is a wine with depth, maturity, and a hint of austerity that demands aging. 

Yves Beck

About wine:

Fruity and complex nose. Notes of raspberry. On the palate, the wine is balanced, full-bodied, powerful, and beautifully lively. It enjoys a beautiful harmony and an ideal symbiosis between grainy tannins and its supporting structure. What beauty! 2017-2026

Vert de Vin

About wine:

The nose is elegant and offers harmonious power, a subtle powdery note, a slight airiness in the management of its power, and a fine texture. There are notes of crushed blackberry, fleshy/crushed strawberry and, more subtly, nutmeg and cinnamon, combined with hints of smoke, fairly ripe red berries, subtle hints of camphor and spices, a discreet hint of chocolate, very subtle hints of caramelization and a subtle, almost aniseed-like hint. The palate is fruity and offers minerality, a tangy structure, lovely salinity, lovely freshness, and good definition. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/ripe blackberry, juicy/ripe raspberry and, more subtly, salty minerality, red berries, blueberry, hints of tobacco, star anise, subtle hints of zan, sweet spices, nutmeg and discreet hints of undergrowth. The tannins are racy. A lovely hint of iodine and toasted almonds on the finish/persistence.