The 2017 Chateau Beychevelle is another beautiful wine from this estate, which is being run with incredible talent and passion by Romain Ducolomb, who was hired away from Chateau Clinet. The 2017 is based on 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc (a selection of just 52% of the production) and spent 18 months in 60% new French oak. Lively, elegant notes of green tobacco, lead pencil, flowers, mint, and blueberries all emerge from the glass, and it’s medium to full-bodied, with a classic, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It’s up with the top wines in the vintage and will evolve for 2+ decades.

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Beychevelle has a fragrant, floral nose with warm cassis, preserved plums and Morello cherries plus earth, herbs and cinnamon touches. Medium-bodied, it has lovely expression with firm, fine grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. The wine was aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new and 40% second fill. The final blend is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Fifty-two percent of the production was dedicated to the grand vin, with 240,000 bottles produced.

Aromas of flowers, berries and light cedar with some milk-chocolate undertones. Medium body. Creamy tannins and a firm, caressing finish. Shows tension and focus.

The 2017 Beychevelle is absolutely gorgeous. Creamy and beautifully layered on the palate, Beychevelle exudes exotic richness in its ripe red/purplish berry fruit. Even though the 2017 is rather flamboyant in style, it retains quite a bit of brightness to play off its more extroverted leanings. Beychevelle was impressive on the several times I tasted it. - vinous.com, May 2018

The 2017 Beychevelle was, atypically for the vintage, quite ostentatious from barrel. Not in bottle! It has retained an atypical rich and generous bouquet that you could almost mistake for the following vintage with scents of red cherries, boysenberry, hints of crème de cassis and violet. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins and fine acidity. It feels a little compact at the moment although I admire its focus. Picking at straws, it just feels abrupt on the finish, scrapers out of the exit door a bit too hastily. As such, this is a good Beychevelle, but not one of the best in recent years. Tasted twice with consistent notes. www.vinous.com

A vintage that will provide lots of pleasure over the long term but no need to wait to begin enjoying. A soft dip through the mid palate, this doesn't have the intensity of some in the lineup, but delivers sappy fennel and slate texture and freshness, with a gourmet edge of cocoa bean that adds layers to the blueberry and raspberry fruit, and a mouthwatering finish. Harvest September 13 to October 3, 60% new oak for ageing.

This has a soft core of pure plum and cherry preserve flavors. Light cedar, vanilla and tobacco notes fill in on the finish. Very rounded, displaying a jammy feel rather than the vintage’s overt freshness. A bit of an anomaly. - James Molesworth, winespectator.com, April 2018

One of the most beautiful properties in St Julien, Beychevelle is a traditional styled Claret with a loyal following. Gravel, dark stones, black fruits and a hint of spiced cola. Very fine tannins, supple texture. Precise and fresh, nice lightness of touch. Clean blackcurrant fruits in the mid palate, developing quite nicely into the finish. Good style for the vintage. - April 2018

Deep crimson with purple rim. Tangy, slightly wild black fruit, more bramble than cassis. Smooth, rounded and rather gentle but still persistent. Supple tannins already, though they may be deceptive. - Julia Harding, jancisrobinson.com, April 2018

Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Very floral and fragrant fruit. High toned. Succulent entry, quite polished and fleshy. Full array of fruit and fresh, vibrant acidity. The tannins are fine but firm, offering excellent structure against the fruit. This is approachable and easy to like. (TP)

Deep crimson with purple rim. Tangy, slightly wild black fruit, more bramble than cassis. Smooth, rounded and rather gentle but still persistent. Supple tannins already, though they may be deceptive. (JH)