2020 Amiral de Beychevelle
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Tasting notes
As with the 2019, this is an Amiral to look out for, great depths from the first nose, classic St Julien black fruit and tobacco leaf, fairly angular tannins, a more serious take than the 2019, with fresh acidities and plenty of life ahead, attractive orange peel and fennel on the finish. 35% new oak for ageing.
Critic scores
Average Score
Julia Harding MW, jancisrobinson.com
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
Tasted blind. Deep smudgy crimson. Open, lifted dark-red fruit. Really fragrant. Delicate, fine-boned, juicy. Not for the longest of ageing but balanced in this lighter style. (JH)
The 2020 Amiral de Beychevelle has a crisp, delineated bouquet with blackberry and wild strawberry. Touches of graphite and pencil shavings render it very Pauillac in style. The palate is medium-bodied with a feisty entry, but there is just a vein of greenness underlying the finish that just nags away. Otherwise, this is a commendable wine. As such, I'd allow it two or three years in bottle to see if that element meliorates. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.
The 2020 Amiral de Beychevelle, bottled at the end of March 2022, had a Margaux-like bouquet out of barrel, but in bottle, it seems to revert to Saint-Julien with black fruit, tobacco, tea leaves and bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit. It's gained a bit of weight during its élevage while retaining freshness and sapidity on the finish. This has meliorated and deserves higher than my banded primeur score.
About the producer
With greater care in the vineyard and more precision in the winery, Ch. Beychevelle's star is rising. That's in large part due to the leadership of Philippe Blanc and investment by current owners, Japanese brewers Suntory and French wine group Castel.