Darkly herbal, spiced and perfumed nose. Supple, fruity, forward and lively, this has an initial vivacious and pulsing energy that settles giving some green pepper, eucalyptus and cedar notes as well as liquorice and clove which then dominate the finish. It starts well, with such pace, and you feel the fruit has been well worked with tannins that are silky and fine. This has density and chew which I love as well as structure and backbone wine overall finesse. Great potential here.

Flowers, tobacco, spice, currants and black raspberries define the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, almost light on its feet with sweet black currants, peppery cherries, chewy blackberries, dark chocolate and a touch of refreshing spearmint that adds to the vibrant character. The wine blends 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2025-2050.

The 2021 Beychevelle is elegant, understated and classy. Medium in body and less overt than most recent years, the 2021 is impeccably balanced from start to finish. Dark-toned fruit, gravel, menthol, licorice, spice and new oak build nicely with a bit of time in the glass. This is incredibly harmonious. -- Antonio Galloni

Soft ruby rose in colour, fresh acidities, this is clearly a challenging vintage, well handled with gentle and fine tannic frame, raspberry and redcurrant fruits, clear tobacco leaf and smoked earth, edges of tumeric and cumin, should soften a little over the next few years, but honestly no great need to wait, this has St Julien balance and charm, and perhaps the earlier the better to make the most of those qualities, 60% new oak.

(93+ points) Clearly a star in the vintage, the 2021 Château Beychevelle is showing even better from bottle than barrels, revealing a dense purple hue as well as gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, spicy oak, smoked tobacco, and iron. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, aged in 70% new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, has a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, beautiful overall balance, and a great finish. It needs 4-5 years to integrate its oak but will easily evolve for two decades. It's a pure, layered, incredibly impressive 2021 that has tons to love, and I'd certainly be thrilled to have bottles in the cellar.

(92+ points) The 2021 Beychevelle opens in the glass with notes of sweet berry compote, plums and creamy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, fleshy palate with an unusually sweet core of fruit for the vintage, framed by plenty of chewy tannin, and concluding with a vanillin-inflected finish. - William Kelley