Beauséjour Bécot 2010

A blend of 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, this wine from a moderately sized vineyard was cropped at only 27.5 hectoliters per hectare and came in at 14.5% natural alcohol. The wine displays plenty of toasty oak and vanillin as well as some lead pencil shavings intermixed with cedar, black currants, cherry jam, chocolate and espresso. It is a relatively big, dense, full-bodied St.-Emilion that needs 5-6 years of cellaring and that should keep well for up to two decades.

Tiny yields of 21 hectoliters per hectare produced a wine with 15% natural alcohol. The final blend was 73% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Quite backward, as if malolactic fermentation had just finished, this opaque purple-hued, large-scaled, massive effort reveals high tannins, high extraction and huge concentration. Everything is present, but this wine looks set for a long life and will not be as sumptuous or opulent in its youth as the 2009 or 2008. Forget it for 5-8 years and drink it over the following three decades.

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Beausejour-Becot has a ripe blackcurrant, dark plum and crushed stone scented bouquet that is well defined, feisty at first but calming down in the glass, a little stemmy underneath like Figeac. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins. Surprisingly, this is very classic in style with the Cabernet component very obvious. It is distinctive from its peers, a cru that seems to have gained panache since last year. Tasted January 2014.

Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The late malolactic fermentation meant that I could not score the wine during the primeur. Finally in bottle, the 2010 Beausejour Becot has fine definition on the nose, although it is tightly wound and not expressive at this particular moment. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins; masculine in nature but with plenty of depth on the finish. This is a commendable wine from an excellent estate, although I would pick the 2009 over the 2010. Tasted November 2012.

Wonderful nose with loads of dark chocolate, plums and some coffee. Opens up with orange peel, leather and vanilla. Full and round on palate with beautiful fruit and sweet polished tannins. Long and gorgeous with a really smooth texture. Drink from 2017.

Layered and very structured, with blueberry and toasted oak character. Full and silky with ripe tannins. Long finish.

Blackish crimson. Very lightly cheesy nose and thick and solid on the palate with lots of 2010 trademark acid and tannin. Pretty raw and a little short on the finish.

The fruit on the nose is ripe all quite fleshy. Black fruits tend to dominate the start of the palate but towards the middle there are fresher flavours which balance and add to complexity. The fruit lingers on the finish.

Another fine effort from this consistent estate. Spicy, lifted aromas and deep colour give it a modern allure. Lovely volume of fruit. Powerful but refined tannins. Persistent. Drink 2018-2040.