"Whereas the 1981 Beychevelle is a very proper and stylish example of the vintage, the 1979 is a stunning bottle that totally transcends the general quality of ’79 and is one of the great sleepers out there in the world of mature claret. The stunning nose is deep, pure and vibrant, as it soars from the glass in a blaze of black cherries, small berries, cigar smoke, nutskins, a beautifully complex base of soil and just a touch of cedar. On the palate the wine is deep, medium-full and very intensely flavored, with a fine core of fruit, haunting complexity, beautiful balance and outstanding length and grip on the tangy, meltingly tannic finish. This is a beautiful bottle of Beychevelle at its absolute zenith, but with years and years of life still ahead of it. Clearly one of the greatest Médocs of the 1979 vintage."
JG93