2010 Beychevelle, St-Julien (Pre-Arrival)

SKU #1066772 95 points James Suckling

Beautiful aromas of blackberries, currants and flowers. Very aromatic. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and gorgeous fruit. It's polished and very refined. One of the best Beychevelles in years. Try in 2018. (2/ 2013)

94 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Showing better from bottle than it did from barrel, where it was also impressive, but not quite at this level, the 2010 Beychevelle displays sweet black currant, black cherry, foresty notes, medium to full-bodied texture with impressive purity and moderately high tannins (although they’ve softened considerably during the wine’s upbringing in barrel). Layered and rich for a Beychevelle, this wine should easily withstand three decades of cellaring. I would give it another 3-4 years of bottle age, but this is a fabulous effort from the first chateau one sees upon entering the appellation of St.-Julien. (2/ 2013)

94 points Wine Enthusiast

Beychevelle's style privileges elegance over weight, and such is the case with the 2010. It's a pure-fruited, ripe and lightly tannic wine, emphasizing a blackberry note. This will evolve relatively quickly, reaching a peak in approximately eight years. (2/ 2013)

93 points Wine Spectator

Features a gutsy feel, displaying dark, roasted cedar and tobacco notes framing a core of steeped fig, blackberry paste and plum skin that rumbles through the tarry finish. Shows strong grip on the back end, with the briary edge extending nicely. Best from 2016 through 2035. (3/ 2013)

88-91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

(a blend of 54% cabernet sauvignon, 38% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 3% petit verdot) Dark ruby-red with purple highlights. Floral a romas of red cherry, blackcurrant, licorice and tar. At once smooth, sweet and nicely delineated, with good lift to the delicate, lightly saline red berry, sassafrass and white pepper flavors. Finishes with sweet tannins and sneaky persistence. As usual, Beychevelle is not a blockbuster and left me wondering if it couldn't be just a bit more concentrated, but this 2010 seems to have more stuffing than usual. The high percentage of merlot gives it early appeal. (5/ 2011)

Jancis Robinson

Inviting, savoury dark fruit. Wonderfully juicy in the middle of all that tannin structure. Chewy and dense and then a chocolate sweetness at the very end. Drink 2018-2030. 17/20 points. (11/ 2012)