WTN: 2015 Château Beychevelle

[David M. Bueker]

2015 Château Beychevelle - France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien (1/28/2019)
Tasted over the course of two evenings, this shows great promise, and no small amount of pleasure now. Dark fruit, firm, but not drying tannins, and a long, dark fruit finish that echoes the initial richness on the palate. No question this echoes the best of classic Bordeaux, but with all the advantages of modern vineyard work and top quality winemaking. I would be happy to follow this wine for twenty to thirty years.

we should all live so long!

Thanks. I mostly stopped buying Bordeaux after 2005 vintage (because I like fully mature) but did break down and get a couple mixed cases of 15, looks like included 3 bottles of Beychevelle. Thanks for notes

[David M. Bueker]

Happy to help. Going to pop a 2014 sometime soon. Will be fun to compare.

Infanticide is always useful to those who like to see early notes on wines they won't touch for a long time.

I'm with Dale - both because I like mature vintages and because the style changed and I am not as fond of fruit forward lush Californicated clarets (which are more common now) as I am for the classic style that may be a bit more reticent when young but has a big pay off with time.

PS - my 75, 82, 86 and 88 Beychevelle are still doing just fine. It will be interesting to see how ageable the new vintages are - do you have any impression of structure for ageing from your tasting? I know you said 20-30 years, but it presumably has an 'early opening' drinking window starting when - now?

PPS - what does the 2015 cost down there It is $160 CAN. here

[David M. Bueker]

I got mine for $80 USD.

I got mine for $80 USD.

ARGHHHH!!!!!!!!!

CT says I paid $70US (futures from Posner)
When I was buying more Bordeaux to cellar it was helpful to open one young to get a sense of what I thought (and whether to get more). But with 3 bottles of Beychevelle I'll just take my chances cellaring
I've enjoyed 59, 64. 66, 70, 82, 88 within last few years- underrated estate

When I was actively buying Bordeaux, I attended an annual tasting put on by a local agent with pre-release wines and even some cloudy Sauternes barrel samples. Invaluable info for later purchases!