Ch. Beychevelle - vertical tasting

This beautiful chateau close to the Gironde is 4th rand cru classee. The names derives from an old story about the boats passing the chateau had to lower their sails (basse-voile) in respect.

We had the hard task of tasting the 2004,2002, 1997, 1989 and 1985 (somebody have to to the job)

Beychevelle is a medium to full bodied wine with more than 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and around 30% Merlot. Conclusions from the tasting is that the 1989 was at peak, but that the 1985 was still drinking well but maybe on the way down. 2004 could also be drunk now after a couple of hours in the caraffe, 2002 was corked and 1997 was most enjoyable right now leading to the conclusion that Beychevelle peaks between 10 and 20 years old....
The wines below cost from 30 to 110€ per bottle.

2004 ca 17p Very drinkable with soft tannic structure

2002 corked

1997 ca 18p Coffee, smoke, smooth firm tannins, great stuff

1989 ca 18.5 Drinking perfect now, with long velvety taste

1985 ca 18 Smoke, coffee, slightly sweet but balanced taste

http://www.beychevelle.com/

Comments

Leoville Lascases 1988

Last week was a special week for me as I received my last pay check from my previous employer. An event that required some sort of celebration with some good friends. Of the many bottles opened during that evening was a Leoville Lascases 1988. This Bordeaux wine from St. Julien is second Grand cru classee but it has the quality of a first growth. This chateau was also the wine that made me change from beer to wine as I had the pleasure of tasting a Leoville Lascases 1945 back in 88. The 1945 just knocked me off my guard and I remember thinking what a fantastic wine it was and what an experience to drink this wine from the year when world war 2 ended. I was in shock and I then just decided to enter into the world of wine. I have always had a soft spot for this chateau ever since. And to my pleasure it has been performing well at much more reasonable prices than the much more expensive first growths in the 1855 classification. Nowadays a bottle of this wine costs around ...

Pecharmant wine district

Pécharmant is a wine appellation in the hills to the North-East of the market town of Bergerac , France. Pécharmant is the best known of the wines from the Dordogne subregion and the wines have been classified as AOC since 1936. The identification "Pécharmant" dates from 1946 and new AOC since March 13, 1992. First produced in the eleventh century, Pécharmant is the oldest collective of vineyards in the region of Bergerac. "Pécharmant" comes from the words "Pech" ( "Hill") and "Charmant" (Charming), thus meaning "the charming hill." Pécharmant vineyards are well exposed to the sun and the soil consists sand and gravel from the Perigord, and containing a deep layer of ferruginous clay called "Tran." Pécharmant is a blend of at least three varietals predominantly Merlot with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Côt, and Malbec. These varietals produce a wine suitable for holding from four to ten years, typically tannic...

Condrieu 2014 by Cuilleron

In the steep hills north in the Rhone valley there is a small appelation which is called Condrieu. Here the rare grape of Viognier is grown. A grape not well known to many people but which gives a fantastic wine when grown here. It is a full bodied white with a very pronounced and overwhelming smell of flower, peach, apricot, tropical fruit etc. The taste is dominated by ripe fruit, medium acidity and a long finish. Very good to outstanding quality. This is not a white for the fainthearted as the style is rather opulent. But with 2 year old Comte it is the perfect match. Cuilleron (manager) has many different styles. The wine is pricy and rare to get hold of. Condrieu 2014 "La Petite Cote" Yves Cuilleron ca 30€ or 400 nok

Life is too short to drink bad wine

Search This Blog