Chateau Beychevelle   Beychevelle

1999 Beychevelle

By Chateau Beychevelle

1999 Beychevelle from Chateau Beychevelle, St-Julien, Bordeaux

The 1999 Beychevelle from the illustrious Chateau Beychevelle encapsulates a harmony of complexity and maturity that only a St-Julien can offer. Nestled in the heart of Bordeaux, this Chateau is renowned for producing wines of exceptional character, and the '99 vintage is no exception. With decades to ponder over its evolution, one can assert that this vintage has sailed elegiacally into the annals of fine wine.

 

Distinct Vintage, Distinct Qualities

The '99 vintage may not have been heralded at inception with as much fanfare as its immediate predecessors, yet it has shown remarkable resilience and elegance over time. The temperate '99 season eschewed the extremities that could complicate vinification, gifting vintners with grapes that held the promise of yielding a well-balanced claret for investment connoisseurs.

On the nose, this Beychevelle speaks to a bouquet layered with tertiary aromas - truffle and forest floor entwine with subtle hints of cigar box and dried violets. Sipping this wine is an excursion through a gracefully aged structure; tannins have softened into a silkiness that carries flavours of mature blackcurrant, leather, and a minty eucalyptus nuance. There's also an alluring hint of savourousness that suggests exceptional partnerships with cuisine - think classic duck à l'orange or a delicate truffle risotto.

 

An Investment Worthy of Your Cellar

The 1999 Beychevelle has reached a plateau where it confidently showcases the prowess of St-Julien's terroir while promising a few more years under its belt for increasing complexity. Offering both immediate pleasure and potential value appreciation makes it an elegant addition to any investor's portfolio.

In summing up, this poised offering from Chateau Beychevelle is one to acquire with eagerness and enjoy with patience. It represents not just a wise investment in fine wines but also an invitation to experience the history of one of Bordeaux's most legendary estates.

Market price (GBP)

£1,110.00

12x75cl

Highest score

88

POP score

138.75

Scores and tasting notes

88

Tasted at the 1999 horizontal at Bordeaux Index. This has an interesting nose with blackberry, espresso, a touch of coca and sandalwood. It does lack just a little fruit intensity. The palate is medium-bodied, just a little green on the entry but good acidity, firm tannins but then lacking complexity and finesse towards the finish. It is a little uninspiring. Go for the '49! Drink now-2015. Tasted June 2009.

Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2009

86

This is a pleasant, medium-bodied 1999 displaying notes of herbs and damp earth in its austere, undernourished personality. Notions of strawberry, cherry, and currant fruit also emerge, but there is not a lot to get excited about in this uninspiring 1999. It will last for a decade.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2002

Vintage performance