Andrew Jefford | Dark purple-black, still opaque at the core. A winning ripeness here, with breadth and decking to the fruits, as if it came from a more generous vintage than 2017: bravo. Milled pepper and ground spice beneath the fruits (where there is blossomy black cherry as well as blackcurrant); almost a meaty breadth, too. Admirable work here. On the palate, it is neither thick nor broad (though few wines are this year), nor does it have the dramatic concentration of some—but it’s an excellent 2017 for all that. What this Beychevelle does have is purity, poise, and smoothness of line; and great refinement of flavor, too, with the fruits teased to a winning cusp of ripeness and immaculately sorted. There’s complexity of fruit and textured finesse. Not a hair out of place, in sum, and it’s a St-Julien that gazes south, toward Rauzan-Ségla and Palmer. A lovely drink. | 92

Michael Schuster | Light, cedary, sweetly fruited, persistent nose; medium-full, fresh in acidity, finely firm in tannin, very nicely balanced in the year; this is sweetly ripe at its core, gently juicy, 2017-brisk, yes, but without “edginess” with a delicious purity, length of flavor, and aftertaste. Excellent if leaner-styled Beychevelle; excellent St-Julien. 2025–35+. | 91