2010 Beychevelle

This 2010 just nudges the 2009 for me in terms of future potential if you are looking to cellar over the long term. Has depth and silky tannins, layers of bitter black chocolate, tea, cocoa bean, espresso, salted cracker, rosemary, sage, anis, and aromatics of crushed roses as it opens. Great quality, a ton of complexity. 60% new oak for ageing, September 27 to October 13 for harvest.

The 2010 Beychevelle has much more lift and black fruit on the nose compared directly with the 2009. Licorice and violet scents, especially the former, emerge with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with a lightly spiced entry. Huge structure, dense and tannic, powerful with an almost burly finish. You might argue that this lacks a bit of finesse, but it has a sense of audacity uncommon in this Saint-Julien. Tasted at the Beychevelle vertical at the property.

The 2010 Beychevelle has a dense bouquet with blackberry and wild hedgerow aromas. The oak is neatly integrated and with subtle iodine scents developing with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, a superb line of acidity, fresh and vibrant with a distinctive graphite note towards the Pauillac-like finish. I love the linearity and precision of this Saint-Julien, real class here. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.