A very classical St. Julien that’s got good concentration and real elegance, too. Great black fruits on the nose with subtle oak, and the richness and dry tannins are balanced out beautifully. You could drink it now, but this will age beautifully.

The 2014 Beychevelle checks in as a Merlot-heavy blend of 51% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest equal parts Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. This deeply colored 2014 offers loads of ripe black cherry and smoky blackberry fruit as well as an undeniable minerality in its charcoal, toasted spice, and graphite aromas and flavors. With medium to full-bodied richness, good concentration, notable tannin, and a fresh, classic style, this age-worthy 2014 will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two-plus decades.

The 2014 Beychevelle has a very comely, pure bouquet with heightened dark cherry, blackcurrant and wilted violet scents rendering it almost more Margaux-like than Saint Julien. The palate is medium-bodied, svelte in texture with light tannin. It is a nimble Beychevelle, light on its feet with wonderful freshness and tension towards the finish. This is a very well-crafted wine from Philippe Blanc and his team, a St. Julien that is nimble on its toes.