1 impériale per lot
Details
Château Beychevelle--Vintage 1945
Saint-Julien, 4me cru classé
Newly re-waxed capsule with slight signs of old seepage. Slightly bin-soiled label. Level into neck. New Château wooden case
Vintage Report 1945 *****
Arguably one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century, and in my opinion eclipsing the 1961. An early harvest yielded magnificent, long-lasting wines of the highest quality. The very small crop size was the result of severe frosts in May, when the vines were literally nipped in the bud. The wines' exceptional ripeness, concentration and power were due to a summer of drought and excessive heat. The vines and the winemaking also benefitted - though it may not have been appreciated at the time - from some fortuitous circumstances: first, old, or at last fully mature, vine stock as there had been little replanting during the war; second, traditionally winemaking methods. New oak barrels were a thing of the future as was the influence of the consultant oenologist. The best, and best kept, are still superb. M.B.
1 impériale per lot
Saint-Julien, 4me cru classé
Newly re-waxed capsule with slight signs of old seepage. Slightly bin-soiled label. Level into neck. New Château wooden case
Vintage Report 1945 *****
Arguably one of the greatest vintages of the 20th century, and in my opinion eclipsing the 1961. An early harvest yielded magnificent, long-lasting wines of the highest quality. The very small crop size was the result of severe frosts in May, when the vines were literally nipped in the bud. The wines' exceptional ripeness, concentration and power were due to a summer of drought and excessive heat. The vines and the winemaking also benefitted - though it may not have been appreciated at the time - from some fortuitous circumstances: first, old, or at last fully mature, vine stock as there had been little replanting during the war; second, traditionally winemaking methods. New oak barrels were a thing of the future as was the influence of the consultant oenologist. The best, and best kept, are still superb. M.B.
1 impériale per lot
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