Saint-Julien 4° Grand Cru Classé 2015 - MAGNUM - Parker 93

Winemaker and vineyard: The vineyard is composed of the four noble Medoc grape varieties: 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot. The heart of the vineyard is located on two plateaus of deep Garonne gravels from the Güntz era on the edge of the Gironde, a favourite terroir for Cabernet Sauvignons. Indeed, these famous Medoc gravel mounds, in proximity to the Gironde, offer the best conditions for the flourishing of Bordeaux grape varieties. Restoring the heat of the sun during the night, and draining excessrainwater, the vine finds there the ideal conditions to ripen its grapes. These will give wines, of a deep red, balanced and generous, at once silky and powerful.

Tasting: 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. (robertparker.com, 28.04.2016)

Service: Serve at room temperature (16-18°C) to accompany beef, poultry or cheese.