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Neal Martin, the most influential Bordeaux critic, has just released his latest score for the 2015 Château Beaumont, awarding it 91 points at The Southwold Tasting earlier this year. In his estimation, this rates it higher than Pagodes de Cos, Dame de Montrose and even Clerc and Duhart-Milon from the same vintage. This is an extraordinary
achievement considering these other wines cost roughly three to five times more.
Southwold Tasting scores are particularly useful, reflecting the finished wine, fined, filtered and bottled. For many years the event was held at The Swan Hotel in Southwold, just up the coast from us here in Aldeburgh. The retirement of some key people in Adnams' wine department led to a move to the offices of a London merchant. A shame for Suffolk, but if anything the event is more influential in the long-term appraisal of each vintage.
Beaumont gets better and better. We recently said the 2018 was the best we have tasted from barrel and the '15 now joins it as the best vintage in bottle and ready for early drinking. The 2016 may be its equal, but will be for the longer term.
You may have bought 2015 Beaumont from us en primeur. We recommended it at the time and are delighted to see Neal Martin confirming our view; with 92 points from James Suckling to boot. This is a wine which will give lots of drinking pleasure over the next few years and we recommend adding some (more!) to your cellar.
We include a picture of beach huts at Southwold, in honour of the occasion.
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