1986 Chateau Beychevelle, Saint-Julien, Bottle (750ml) [Top Shoulder]

JA95 "Storming wine, still generous and full of pleasure, a reminder of just how good Beychevelle has been in the past, and why it's such a joy to see how far it return to form over the past decade. I last had this two years ago, and it hasn't budged one bit - still full of smoked earth, truffles, rose petal and peony floral aromatics, tobacco and undergrowth, softly spun tannins and an unhurried desire to please, still fresh and treading lightly through the palate. Maurice Ruelle winemaker. There is bottle variation in this vintage, but we were lucky with this beautiful example, as I was last time, giving me confidence to put a high score against it." JA for IB May 2024

Neal Martin for RobertPaker.com writes, ""This is just a great Beychevelle, certainly the best of the decade and an indication of just what this wine can do. A deep garnet hue. The nose is typical of the vintage: dense cedar and tobacco infused blackberry, a touch of gypsum, wet sand and wild hedgerow (almost like a the north Norfolk sand-dunes.) The palate is full-bodied with a liquorices tinged entry, firm tannins and structure and impressive concentration, one that would not embarrass Las-Cases! Muscular finish that maintains its sense of delineation and harmony. A great wine." NM 93Pts for WJ Published: Sep 29, 2008