Chateau Beychevelle… The dragon boat wine from Bordeaux.

The Château Beychevelle St Julien 2019 is of very good quality this year. A 4th Cru, admittedly, but often even more sought after and with a higher price than many higher-classified wines. With its distinctive sailboat label, Beychevelle is a Bordeaux which is popular all over the world. Strangely enough, it is also hugely popular in China. Here, this wine is known as “Dragon Boat Wine“. Money is even being bid on empty bottles there (and why, you might ask? Superstition or filling them with fake wine perhaps?) In any case, this is a very real one!

A gem from Bordeaux. Deep garnet-purple in color, the Château Beychevelle St Julien 2019 explodes from the glass. Truly bombastic aromas of crème de cassis, blueberry jam, baked plums with a hint of menthol. It doesn't stop there, with hints of cinnamon toast, smoked meat, plus a touch of dark chocolate. The medium-bodied palate bursts in with fantastic energy and decadent flavors of black and blue fruit. All framed by exquisitely ripe, fine-grained tannins and powerful freshness. Ultimately finishing with great length and elegance.

Always one of the most progressive and “user-friendly” of the top Saint Julien classified wines. This is a wine usually made to provide drinking pleasure relatively early, rather than to win academic blind tastings. The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon is low for the Northern Médoc, and there is always a high percentage of Merlot in the final blend. Made from a 78-hectare vineyard.

2019 is of exceptional class

Owner Philippe Blanc, who celebrated his twenty-fifth vintage at Beychevelle this year, views 2019 as the successor to a high-quality series he has never before experienced at Château Beychevelle. The release is a huge success, and Blanc was one of many who said that the Merlots behaved like Cabernets this year and the Cabernets behaved like Merlots. The high percentage of Merlot (49% of the blend) is noticeable in pure, autumnal fruit with hints of blackberries, sloes, smoke, and cedarwood on the nose. The wine is fluid and attractive, with tannins that fill the mouth yet are soft and supple, along with a lively touch of acidity and spice on the finish. A beautiful wine, a superb follow-up to the 2018.

Large landowner Beychevelle

Château Beychevelle is a major landowner, covering 250 hectares, but only 90 of these are planted with vines and only 78 are located in the Saint-Julien appellation (the rest are in neighboring Cussac). Approximately 60% of these estates are situated on the plateau between Branaire-Ducru and Ducru-Beaucaillou, and the percentage of Merlot is quite high at 40% – although it is declining, as replanting here is favoring Cabernet Sauvignon. The grand vin itself represents slightly more than half of the production, and over the past ten years it has become a little richer and more structured, while retaining the fleshy, charming style that has earned the estate so many admirers.