Jeff Loo, JJ Buckley, April 2013

Dark purple core with flecks of ruby and garnet towards the rim. On the nose, expressive notes cassis, dusty chalk and mocha are followed by leather, dried raspberry and truffle. On entry there is a great definition with finely grained tannins and integrated acidity that lingers onto the soft mid palate, where notes of grilled meat, graphite and roasted black fruits emerge. Though a treat to try at this stage, this needs at least another 5-8 years before it will truly shine, and will easily last well beyond 2035.

Mike Supple, JJ Buckley, March 2007

Dark clear core; bright rim, with intense purple tones. The nose has full rich aromas of raspberry and brambly fruits with strong vanilla notes coming over the top. Thick on the front palate, this wine is coming together in the bottle well. Bold yet integrated tannins with a solid juicy core. Bright fruit and toasted oak linger through the finish.

90 points,

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, April 2008

While this is a strong effort from a property that too often does not live up to its pedigree, I had hoped the 2005 Beychevelle would merit an even higher score. A deep ruby/purple hue is accompanied by a sweet perfume of roasted herbs, black cherries, and even blacker fruits. The wine is medium to full-bodied with sweet tannin, good acidity, and a fruitcake-like spiciness and earthiness. Pure and long with a tannic clout that is neither intrusive nor excessive, this elegant, powerful effort should be at its finest between 2017-2030.

90 points,

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, June 2008

Good deep red-ruby. Subtle oak accents very ripe aromas of plum, currant, mocha, chocolate and tobacco leaf. Sweet, ripe and broad, with good density and freshness to the currant and spice flavors. Not a blockbuster but sweeter than the 2006 and longer on the aftertaste, finishing with fairly substantial but ripe tannins.

89 points,

Wine Spectator, March 2008

Has pretty blackberry, licorice and spices on the nose. Full-bodied, with medium tannins and a minerally, fruity, almost spicy finish. Balanced and refined. Best after 2012. 23,330 cases made. -JS

About Winery

Bishop François de Foix-Candale commissioned the first Château building in 1565. This passed to his niece and heir, spouse of Jean-Louis de Nogaret de la Valette, First Duc d'Epernon, favourite of King Henri III, Grand Admiral of France, and later successively governor of Provence and Guyenne.

It was this man who was responsible for the name Beychevelle: ships sailing past his residence had to lower their flags (Beychevelle is an archaic spelling of Baisse Voile, which means, literally, `Lower Your Sails') in homage of the all-powerful Duc d'Epernon.

The start of the nineteenth century saw the property in decline, but then Bordeaux wine merchant Pierre-François Guestier, brought Château Beychevelle back to its splendour by winning a gold medal in 1866.

His successor, Armand Heine, cousin of German poet Heinrich Heine, had the north wing of the castle built. He also replanted the vineyard after the phylloxera disaster. His wife, Marie-Amélie Kohn then re-established this vineyard.

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