Chateau Beychevelle 2015

Chateau Beychevelle 2015 – 92-94 Pts Wine Advocate

12×75 – £530 EP

6×75 – £265 EP

IG Wines offer a choice of bottling for en primeur orders, see below.

En Primeur Expected Spring 2018 

This morning Beychevelle has kicked off the en primeur campaign, releasing at £530 per case of 12 bottles. Today’s release price is very attractive, representing a 20% discount on the current trading price of Beychevelle 2010 and 30% on the 2009; the benchmarks for the superb 2015 vintage. In 2015 Beychevelle has been awarded potentially its highest ever score, receiving 92-94 point from Neal Martin and Antonio Galloni and therefore, on par with the 2009 and 2010. In fact, Beychevelle scores tend to improve greatly from barrel to bottle, the 2010 was originally awarded 90-92 points. As such, Beychevelle 2015 could be their finest ever vintage!

Beychevelle has long been a favourite wine of European collectors, yet in recent years the Dragon-boat-esque label has made it a darling in Asia. It is instructive to look at Beychevelle’s performance over the last 12 months, since the release of the 2014. While the Bordeaux market for physical vintages has remained flat for 12 months, the last 10 vintages of Beychevelle have risen 15%, reflecting its superstar cachet in Asia and its strong historical market in Europe and the US. It is a wine on a firm upward trend, a movement driven by healthy consumption, not just speculation.

Today’s price reflects a 17% euro increase and the change in the euro to pound FX rate: since its release the 2014 has risen 16%. Yet by releasing comfortably below the trading price of the 2009 and the 2010, Beychevelle have provided a real incentive to buy on release. Beychevelle 2015 is a collector’s item, it will drink beautifully for 30 years. This will see very strong global demand, driven by Asia, yet supported by the US and Europe who will clamber to secure it for future consumption and to take advantage of the upward price trend.

A pithy history of Beychevelle
Chateau Beychevelle has one of the richest histories in the Médoc, its roots can be traced back to the 14th Century when a feudal castle belonging to the Foix family occupied the site. The property passed to the husband of Marguerite de Foix-Candale, the Duc d’Epernon in 1587. The Duc was heavily involved in politics and was even in a coach next to Henri III when he was assassinated. He also became an Admiral of France which indirectly led to the name Beychevelle being used for the wine produced on the estate. Due to the Duc’s position, ships passing on the Gironde close to the estate were required to lower their sails as a salute, therefore, Beychevelle is a corruption of Baisse-Voile meaning lower sail.

Chateau Beychevelle’s reputation began to flourish under the innovative and respected Pierre-François Guestier, leading to Fifth Growth status in 1855 despite never being mentioned in any of the previous unofficial classifications of Bordeaux. After the death of M. Guestier in 1874 the property was sold to Armand Heine and upon the death of his wife passed to his son-in-law M. Achille-Fould. The Achille-Fould’s were prominent in French politics during the early 20th Century, however, after a period of neglect, the estate was sold to the French pension fund, GMF in the 1980s who proceeded to sell 40% to a Japanese group. It was under this corporate ownership that much needed investment was made in the Estate and the wines of Beychevelle began to return to the glory years last seen in the 19th Century.

The Chateau at Beychevelle is one of the finest buildings in the Médoc, built during the 18th Century in the style of Louis XV, it commands stunning views of the vineyards and perfectly manicured flowerbeds. Beychevelle is situated in the south-east of St Julien near the village of Beychevelle and is known for powerful wines with extreme concentrations of blackcurrant and cassis.

Also released and available:

• Fombrauge 2015, £170, 12x75cl – 94-95 Pts
• Gazin 2015, £470, 12x75cl – 96 Pts
• Chasse Spleen 2015 £205, 12x75cl – 94-95 Pts
• Guiraud 2015, £315, 12x75cl – 96-97 Pts
• Coutet 2015, £280, 12x75cl – 94-97 Pts
• Doisy Vedrines 2015 £245, 12x75cl – 95-96 Pts

Neal Martin, 92-94 Points   
The 2015 Beychevelle was picked between 22 September and 8 October, a blend of 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot that will be matured in 50% new oak. It has quite a high IPT at 81, a pH of 3.72. It has a clean and crisp bouquet, tightly-wound at first, then unfurls with redcurrant, cranberry and raspberry scents, leaning towards the red spectrum rather than black. There is impressive delineation here, no frills, almost clinical in its “aromatic efficiency.” The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. This is a suave Beychevelle in the making, harmonious in the mouth, supple even, gently building towards a lightly spiced finish. Among the Saint Julien wines, this is clearly one of the more understated 2015s. It is only when you swallow the wine that its lingering flavors remind you that this could evolve into one of Philippe Blanc’s great Beychevelles. While it is not a headline-grabbing wine, a decade in bottle will be handsomely rewarded.

Antonio Galloni, 92-94 Points  
Understated and nuanced, the 2015 Beychevelle is a wine of lovely finesse. Graphite, smoke, plum, violet and lavender are some of the many notes that are found in this delicate, super-expressive Saint-Julien, while floral notes add lift. The finessed side of Saint-Julien comes through nicely here. In 2015, yields were around 47 hectoliters per hectare. The blend is 47% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. New oak is around 50%. Tasted two times.

To buy this wine please reply to this email or telephone +44 (0)203 195 8055. Offer subject to availability. 

En Primeur – Why buy through IG Wines:

• We only work with the largest and best financed negociants in Bordeaux
• We guarantee delivery of all wines purchased en primeur
• We are owned one third by a large family office and very well-financed
• Since our foundation in 2011 we have grown our client base to over 1,500 private clients in ten different countries

IG Wines offer a choice of bottling for en primeur orders:

• Bottles (12x75cl or 6x75cl) – No Charge
• Halves (12×37.5cl or 24×37.5cl) – £12.00 per case
• Magnums (6x150cl or 3x150cl) – £7.00 per case
• Double Magnums (3 x 300cl) – £50.00 per case
• Imperials (1 x 600cl) – £25.00 each

To buy this wine click here.