2012 Beychevelle
By Chateau Beychevelle
2012 Beychevelle from Château Beychevelle, St-Julien, Bordeaux
Amidst the complex constellation of Bordeaux's wine-producing châteaux, the 2012 vintage from Château Beychevelle radiates with a distinctive brilliance. The growing season of this particular year played a cunning game of cat and mouse with the vignerons, delivering challenges that bore unique expressions in the bottled poetry we sip today.
An Oenological Odyssey: The 2012 Narrative
The narrative of 2012 unfolded with twin acts of climatic defiance – a tedious start with cool, damp conditions was surmounted by an Indian summer that swept in to safeguard the grapes' finesse. The deft touch of the vineyard team at Château Beychevelle navigated these capricious skies, as they coaxed their vines to yield fruit that speaks volumes of their resilience and terroir.
Eloquent Expressions: Complex and Captivating
In this 2012 Beychevelle, you find a dexterous tapestry woven from the tannins so emblematic of St-Julien. Rich cassis merges seamlessly with hints of cedar and tobacco – a testament to judicious oak maturation harmonising with the estate's philosophy. It is a wine poised on the knife-edge of maturity; eager to display its stored knowledge yet hinting at untapped archives of complexity within its depths.
A keeper among its peers, this Beychevelle invites investment reflection. Balancing its elegance and muscle, it serves as an intriguing ambassador for the vintage, one that melds the whims of weather with winemaking savoir-faire into a liquid almanac, no less enchanting than St-Julien itself.
A Liquid Lexicon: Investment-worthy Vintage
The 2012 Beychevelle stands as a vibrant testament to both the storied lineage of Château Beychevelle and the fortitude inherent within Bordeaux's vineyards. As an investment-grade wine – akin to a well-curated library boasting volumes diverse yet harmonious – it assures connoisseurship satisfaction and poses an astute addition to any portfolio poised to age gracefully under the watchful care of time.
In the ever-evolving market of fine wines, discerning collectors will appreciate how this vintage encapsulates both the retrospective resonance and prospective potential, characteristic of savvy investments.
Market price (GBP)
£1,020.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
85
Scores and tasting notes
The grand vin, the 2012 Beychevelle, is one of the stars of St.-Julien. Opaque purple, with beautiful crème de cassis notes, the wine has floral underpinnings, sweet tannin and a nice layered, multi-dimensional mouthfeel. This is elegant and powerful, rich and intense, but light on its feet. This is a great Beychevelle and certainly seems to exceed the vintage’s character and expectations. Give it 4-6 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 25-30 years.
Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2015
Blackberry and blueberry character. Full body, with ultra-fine tannins and a pretty finish with finesse and refinement. Beychevelle is very consistent in quality these days.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com April 21st 2013
Philippe Blanc is a winemaker in the ascendency in Saint Julien and he has crafted some lovely Beychevelle wines recently. The Grand Vin is a blend of 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot picked from 27 September until 18 October (16 days picking) and it is being raised in 50% new oak. It has a ripe, rounded, quite generous bouquet with floral, crushed violet scents developing in the glass. The palate has quite a surprising grip on the entry. The IPT of 75 makes its mark
Neal Martin - Wine Journal May 2013
A strong, solid effort from Beychevelle, the 2012 exhibits a deep ruby/plum color in addition to a sweet perfume of mulberries, black currants, jammy cherries, vanilla and damp earth. With good power and more depth than many Medocs as well as the estate's hallmark finesse and elegance, this excellent, possibly outstanding wine possesses sweet tannin and more mid-palate depth than many of its peers.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #206