2006 Beychevelle
By Chateau Beychevelle
2006 Beychevelle from Château Beychevelle, St-Julien, Bordeaux
An exploration into the vintages of Château Beychevelle is an exercise in discovering the essence of St-Julien. The 2006 Beychevelle exemplifies a vintage that exercised the talent of winemakers amidst climatic challenges, crafting a wine with its own singular narrative.
The 2006 Vintage: A Year of Defiance and Distinction
The growing season of 2006 presented Bordeaux with testing conditions, ultimately leading to an early September harvest. A hot summer followed uneven flowering while drought-like conditions stressed the vines. Despite such adversity, the innate resilience of Bordeaux's terroir shone through. Complex and contrasting in profile, the 2006 Beychevelle expressed elegance that only true alchemists at Château Beychevelle could achieve under such circumstances.
Vintage Characters: A Profile of Sophistication
Upon decanting, the 2006 Beychevelle from Château Beychevelle presents an aromatic tapestry interwoven with cassis and hints of cedar—hallmarks of a St-Julien in full expression. On the palate, this claret evolves with layers of dark fruit nuances adorned by moderate tannins which suggest an admirable longevity. Years in bottle have invited the subtleties to surface—a whisper of tobacco, a gesture of earthiness, accented by a delicate vanillin sweetness from its sojourn in French oak.
For investors and connoisseurs alike, the 2006 vintage from Château Beychevelle speaks to an appreciation for wines that echo the story of their year. It retains enough vivacity for immediate gratification while promising potential for those seeking maturation peaks.
Investment-worthy Elegance:
In conclusion, the 2006 Beychevelle stands as one of St-Julien's defining efforts—illustrative of a certain finesse derived from a challenging vintage. Reflective yet robust; it is a desirable addition to both collector's cellar and investment portfolio. The precision in viticulture and vinification at Château Beychevelle ensures that this wine not only encapsulates the best of its terroir but also offers an intriguing narrative for those vested in the finer virtues of Bordeaux.
Current market price
$1,770.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
96.36
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted blind at Southwold ’06 Bordeaux tasting. The nose is one of the few in this flight to show a touch of greenness that suffuses aromas of blackberry, raspberry leaf and mint. The palate is medium-bodied, firm tannins, nice grip, blackberry, cassis and graphite, leading to quite an austere finish that suggests much more ageing is required. Tasted January 2010.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Sep 2010
Tasted at Bordeaux Index's annual 10-Year On tasting in London.The 2006 Château Beychevelle has a more open and more complex bouquet compared to the 2006 Talbot. I appreciate the clarity and detail here with briary, cedar and touches of forest floor, suggesting that it has both feet planted on its drinking plateau. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm grip in the mouth. This is clean and fresh with a fine line of acidity: brambly red fruit, white pepper, cloves and a touch of fennel on the finish. This surpasses previous bottles that I have tasted. Tasted January 2016.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 29 May 2016
A property that seems to be awakening, this St.-Julien leans toward more of a Margaux style. The attractive earthy, floral, red currant, and raspberry notes are impressively intense and complex in the aromatics. This dark ruby/purple-tinged wine displays elegance, finesse, and a beautiful mouthfeel in a restrained, moderately intense, but still classic style with sweet tannins. Tobacco, cedar, earth, and red and black fruits are prominent in both the aromas and the flavors. This wine can be drunk now or cellared for 15-20 years.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #181 Feb 2009