The second wine of this terrific estate located on the southern edge of Saint-Julien, the 2019 Amiral De Beychevelle sports a dense purple hue to go with ripe black (and some blue) fruits, notes of tobacco leaf, cedar, and damp earth, medium-bodied richness, and a plush, round, sexy mouthfeel. It's beautifully balanced and well worth drinking.

The 2019 Amiral de Beychevelle has a well- defined bouquet with perfumed blackberry, bilberry and cedar scents, quite focused and demonstrating more precision than its peers. The palate is well balanced with firm tannins, dense black fruit, just a subtle herbal element towards the finish that imparts freshness. (I believe that will assimilate with bottle age). Cellar this for 4-5 years at least. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.

Shows a flash of mesquite out front, followed quickly by blackberry and black currant preserve flavors. Features sanguine and iron notes that peek through on the grippy finish. Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Drink now through 2032.