2005 Chateau Beychevelle 4eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 1x375ml

Vinous 93

The 2005 Beychevelle is improving in bottle. Quite intense on the nose, it offers slightly darker fruit than previous bottles, with cedar and a touch of espresso, though there is still a little rusticity. The palate is medium-bodied with quite a rich, slightly muscular entry, a smear of dark chocolate and a structured, grippy finish. It needs time, but this is beginning to coalesce nicely and should drink well for longer than I previously envisaged. [Neal Martin, 01/01/2025]

Anticipated maturity: 2025-2045

Robert Parker 91

The Chateau Beychevelle 2005 has a comparatively rich and opulent bouquet, which is quite unexpected, offering with sensual, ripe black cherry and boysenberry fruit, fresh mint and licorice. It has retained that pastille-like purity. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, good acidity, dense black fruit laced with white pepper, building gently but never quite achieving the sophistication of some of the other Saint Julien 2005s. To be honest, I was expecting a little more from this and prefer the 2009 and 2010 from winemaker Philippe Blanc. [Neal Martin, 02/06/2015]

Anticipated maturity: 2019-2045