Beychevelle 2008

St Julien, Fourth Growth

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy
6	75cl Bottle	Case 6	£470 per Case	Case	[Add to shopping basket]

Tasting Notes
The 2008 Beychevelle was undeservedly relegated to the "off-vintages" during this tasting, but it is certainly not that. This has plenty of blackberry, cedar, ash and pencil lead scents on the nose. It has real Saint-Julien typicité. The palate is medium-bodied with solid tannins. The texture feels a bit gritty, but there is freshness and classicism from start to finish, with just the right amount of dryness on the finish. Very fine. Tasted at the Beychevelle vertical at the property. Score: 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023-2040 01 March 2023
The 2008 Beychevelle has a lifted, graphite and tertiary scented bouquet, gaining intensity with aeration, a subtle mulch-like aroma tucked beneath the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, blackberry and bilberry fruit laced with cedar. It feels quite solid towards the back end with an insistent grip. As such, it is not a refined Beychevelle, but it is structured and a candidate for long-term ageing. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.) Score: 92 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2020-2045 01 February 2018
Tasted at the UGC 2008 tasting in London. The Beychevelle is a little reticent and quite earthy on the nose, very taut with cedar and sous-bois dominating the profile, but it has very fine lift, becoming floral with aeration. The palate has firm, robust, quite thick tannins, very structure with cedar and pencil-lead infusing the black fruits, very good weight, but lacking the finesse of the 2009. Good length and persistency but a little sharp on the finish. This is still a classy Saint Julien. Score: 90 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2025+ 01 January 2011
Red-ruby. Perfumed aromas of redcurrant, licorice, chocolate, flowers and baking spices. Classic taut claret, showing insidious intensity without weight. Juicy, nicely delineated flavors of redcurrant, black cherry, pepper and herbs. Finishes vibrant and persistent, with ripe, dusty tannins and a lingering note of redcurrant. Score: 90 Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 July 2011
This ageworthy, elegant, well-made Beychevelle displays copious red and black cherry fruit notes intertwined with dusty, loamy soil and oak undertones, decent acidity, moderate tannin and impressive intensity as well as length. Give it 1-3 years of cellaring and enjoy it over the next 15-18 years. (89+) Score: 89 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2030 03 May 2011
Made in a seductive, soft, charming style, the 2008 Beychevelle is destined to be drunk during its first 15 years of life. It is a sensual St.-Julien offering pretty raspberry and cranberry fruit as well as hints of darker fruits on the palate. With soft tannins and good purity, this is a medium-bodied, well-made, evolved, forward 2008. Score: 88 - 90 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2024 30 April 2009
This has a slightly brawny edge, but feels like it's filling out quickly, with lush, dark fig sauce, black licorice snap and graphite notes taking on more depth as it airs in the glass. Extra black tea and anise hints flash on the finish. Drink now through 2019. 20,833 cases made. Score: 90 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2011-2019 01 January 2011
Good full ruby. Initially dusty, herbal aromas of dark plum and flowers are nicely complicated by hints of soy sauce and Chinese spices. A juicy midweight with a fine-grained texture and a restrained sweetness to its blackcurrant and mineral flavors. Not a big wine but stylish, with very polished tannins and a long, graceful finish. Could use a little more concentration but this very nicely made, pure wine is immediately recognizable as Saint-Julien-and should turn out to be one of the best Beychevelles of the past ten years. Score: 88 - 91 Ian D'Agata, Vinous.com 01 May 2009
Quite aromatic. Very neat. Lovely sweetness on the front and a perfume. Great balance. Fine tannins. Fresh without being tart. Very well put together even if not the most extreme 2008. Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2024 01 April 2009

Tasting Notes

The 2008 Beychevelle was undeservedly relegated to the "off-vintages" during this tasting, but it is certainly not that. This has plenty of blackberry, cedar, ash and pencil lead scents on the nose. It has real Saint-Julien typicité. The palate is medium-bodied with solid tannins. The texture feels a bit gritty, but there is freshness and classicism from start to finish, with just the right amount of dryness on the finish. Very fine. Tasted at the Beychevelle vertical at the property.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023-2040 01 March 2023

The 2008 Beychevelle has a lifted, graphite and tertiary scented bouquet, gaining intensity with aeration, a subtle mulch-like aroma tucked beneath the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, blackberry and bilberry fruit laced with cedar. It feels quite solid towards the back end with an insistent grip. As such, it is not a refined Beychevelle, but it is structured and a candidate for long-term ageing. (Tasted at BI Wine & Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2020-2045 01 February 2018

Tasted at the UGC 2008 tasting in London. The Beychevelle is a little reticent and quite earthy on the nose, very taut with cedar and sous-bois dominating the profile, but it has very fine lift, becoming floral with aeration. The palate has firm, robust, quite thick tannins, very structure with cedar and pencil-lead infusing the black fruits, very good weight, but lacking the finesse of the 2009. Good length and persistency but a little sharp on the finish. This is still a classy Saint Julien.

Score: 90

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2025+ 01 January 2011

Red-ruby. Perfumed aromas of redcurrant, licorice, chocolate, flowers and baking spices. Classic taut claret, showing insidious intensity without weight. Juicy, nicely delineated flavors of redcurrant, black cherry, pepper and herbs. Finishes vibrant and persistent, with ripe, dusty tannins and a lingering note of redcurrant.

Score: 90

Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com 01 July 2011

This ageworthy, elegant, well-made Beychevelle displays copious red and black cherry fruit notes intertwined with dusty, loamy soil and oak undertones, decent acidity, moderate tannin and impressive intensity as well as length. Give it 1-3 years of cellaring and enjoy it over the next 15-18 years. (89+)

Score: 89

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2012-2030 03 May 2011

Made in a seductive, soft, charming style, the 2008 Beychevelle is destined to be drunk during its first 15 years of life. It is a sensual St.-Julien offering pretty raspberry and cranberry fruit as well as hints of darker fruits on the palate. With soft tannins and good purity, this is a medium-bodied, well-made, evolved, forward 2008.

Score: 88 - 90

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2009-2024 30 April 2009

This has a slightly brawny edge, but feels like it's filling out quickly, with lush, dark fig sauce, black licorice snap and graphite notes taking on more depth as it airs in the glass. Extra black tea and anise hints flash on the finish. Drink now through 2019. 20,833 cases made.

Score: 90

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2011-2019 01 January 2011

Good full ruby. Initially dusty, herbal aromas of dark plum and flowers are nicely complicated by hints of soy sauce and Chinese spices. A juicy midweight with a fine-grained texture and a restrained sweetness to its blackcurrant and mineral flavors. Not a big wine but stylish, with very polished tannins and a long, graceful finish. Could use a little more concentration but this very nicely made, pure wine is immediately recognizable as Saint-Julien-and should turn out to be one of the best Beychevelles of the past ten years.

Score: 88 - 91

Ian D'Agata, Vinous.com 01 May 2009

Quite aromatic. Very neat. Lovely sweetness on the front and a perfume. Great balance. Fine tannins. Fresh without being tart. Very well put together even if not the most extreme 2008.

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2014-2024 01 April 2009

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