Despite the extreme heat of June, July and August, this beautiful wine’s terroir shows through. A dense plum/purple color is accompanied by sweet cassis and black currant aromas, broad, round, juicy fruit flavors, medium body, and hints of figs, spice box and cedar. This complete, juicy, fully mature, impressive wine can be consumed over the next 7-8 years.

Drink 2009-2022
-Parker's Wine Buyer's Guide No 7

Given the performance of this somewhat mystifying but beautifully situated estate in St.-Julien, we might be seeing a resurrection in quality, or at least much more consistency. A beauty in an up-front, supple, sexy style is the generous and savory, dark ruby /plum-colored 2003 Beychevelle. Medium to full-bodied with loads of fruit and glycerin, it is much more approachable than usual, but also generously proportioned and exceptionally well-balanced. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2022.

Tasted at Bordeaux Index’s “10-Year On” tasting in London. The Beychevelle 2003 has light animally, gamey bouquet with plenty of Provencal herbs and just a touch of sandalwood. The palate is medium-bodied with a touch of aggression on the entry. It is very foursquare with slightly subdued black fruit, pencil shavings and cedar, whilst the earthy finish is showing just a touch of attenuation. There is good backbone here, but it is not a Saint Julien I would cellar long-term. Tasted March 2013.

Dullish ruby-red. Full-blown, exotic aromas of plum jam, roasted meat and leather, with a suggestion of tropical chocolate. Big, plush and full; a seamless wine that avoids coming off as flat. Finishes with ripe tannins and a lingering flavor of chocolate. I underrated this wine in barrel. Unusually fleshy for Beychevelle, which is not a bad thing.

Crimson. Sweet and rich and yet gentle – much better done than most 2003s. Very dramatic but not (quite) too dry on the finish. Not quite sure where it is going to go – it tastes more like an Amarone than a bordeaux, but it should be fun in the short term. (JR)