Chateau Beychevelle 2018

A distinguished Saint-Julien renowned for aromas of cassis, blackberry, cedar, violet, graphite, and subtle spice. Refined tannins, vibrant freshness, and exceptional balance create a classic Left Bank Bordeaux with remarkable elegance and outstanding aging potential.

Food Pairing: Pair with beef tenderloin, roast lamb, duck breast, venison, aged Comté, truffle dishes, or wild mushroom risotto.

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck

The flagship 2018 Château Beychevelle is a more serious, concentrated, focused wine that still has that classic Saint-Julien purity of fruit as well as a wealth of fruit. Gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, chocolate-covered blueberries, violets, spring flowers, tobacco leaf and cedar all emerge from the glass, and it's medium to full-bodied, with sweet tannins, moderate acidity and a great, great finish. A blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it's one of the sexiest, most up-front and irresistible wines in the vintage. Don't let that scare you, though; it's going to drink beautifully for 2–3 decades.

96 Points - Wine Enthusiast

This is a smooth textured, ripe wine that is packed with black fruit flavor and bold tannins. With its well-integrated structure and density of fruit flavors, it is surely meant for the cellar.

95 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Aged for around 18 months in barrel, 60% new and 40% second fill, the 2018 Beychevelle needs a fair bit of swirling to release classic notes of cassis, plum preserves and ripe blackberries, with emerging suggestions of unsmoked cigars, tilled soil and cedar chest, plus a waft of pencil lead. The medium to full-bodied palate is still very tightly wound, offering finely packed black fruit and earthy layers within a frame of firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. This will need a good 5–6 years to come around and then will drink beautifully over the next 20+ years.

95 Points - Wine Spectator

Violet and warm cassis aromas and flavors lead the way, melding with applewood, ganache, açaí and blueberry reduction notes along the way. Almost lush in the end, but there's a buried tarry streak giving it just a bit of grippy texture for contrast. Serious juice. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2038.

94 Points - James Suckling

Currants and blackberries with crushed stone and fresh herbs. Some flower stem, too. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and linear with firm, driven tannins. This needs four or five years of bottle age to open and come together. Try after 2025.

93 Points - Decanter

Gorgeously brushed tannins with a smoked oak nose. This is excellent, firm and bright, layered and nuanced, gently inviting you in, with plenty of promise of life ahead. Has some austerity and although this is not in 2016 territory of 360-degree expansion, it is highly successful. 50% of production going into the grand vin. 60% new oak. Drinking Window 2026 - 2036.