Bordeaux Wine Enthusiasts

First bottle from a case of Ch. Beychevelle 2000, which has been stored at Farr Vintners in London since release when it cost £240ib. You have to add £1000 to get to today's ib price.

I read that this wine is ready to go and already quite soft. That is somewhat misleading based on this bottle. The first thing you notice about this is the rich, mulberry and plummy fruit, black fruits, then gravel and savoury notes. It has a decent grip and residual tannic structure. It is medium bodied and very elegant. A bit more primary than secondary at this stage. But a lot of palates would like it at this stage in its evolution.

A very fine St-Julien at the beginning of its drinking window, which I would guess to be 2010-40+. I would like to drink these over the next 20 years but will be lucky if they survive. How it is when you take a case out of storage.

onward me hearties!

Sounds like a Jim How kind of wine.

I've had my eye on a bottle of 2014 Beychevelle at Total Wine.

Thanks Ian, I keep trying to score some of the 2000 at auction but the price always seems to go a bit nutty. I think I've got all of 1 or 2 bottles of it, so I'll hold them for a while. I did recently get a good amount of the 2009 Beychevelle however, I hope it shows as well as your 2000 eventually.

To me this wine was always "ready" and remains so. But I'm not sure how much remains of the case I bought ep. Otherwise I concur in your readout.

Comte,
You can thank the Asian buyers (HK, China, Sg, etc) for shoving the price of this wine up as they love the label.
Oh well. Who says you can't drink a label....
It is at least temporarily off my "to buy" list as the price is too high.

Claudius,

Who says you can't drink a label?

You're dead right: the dragon on the label and the cool drawing are very attractive to the Chinese, as I was told at the château.

Best regards,
Alex R.

It's also the grog of choice for Viking raiders.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSO9OFJNMBA

I just netted several 1989 Beychevelles for £90/$120 a bottle. In my experience this is a great vintage for Beychevelle. Did we have it in NYC in 2009 for the Great 1989 Tasteoff? I can't remember.

Ironically I think the quality has gone up at least as fast as the price. I also got a six pack of the 2010s for about the same price. Was looking out for some 2009s but ended up with the 2010s.

80's era Beychevelle tend to be cheaper in auctions (in the USA at least) than 2000-2016 vintages. I snap up the 82, 83, 85 and 86 when I see them well priced. Not tried the 89 more than once if memory serves, but that can often be found for ~$85 all-in at auction, so I might have to give it another go.

The 1989 Beychevelle is a very good choice, anytime. Had it twice and thought it was delicious, complex while very solid.

Nic

I still have the better part of a case of the 1989 and could certainly bring one if any of you find yourselves in the NYC area and are willing to put up with me for the evening

89 Beychevelle is great stuff in the mid price range. Love it.

Let's get another NYC tasting together one of these days, sooner than later.