Château Beau-Séjour Bécot Saint-Emilion 2019 - 1er Grand Cru Classé B

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

With each new vintage, this Beauséjour continues to evolve. In this 2019, there are three distinct layers on the palate, with silky tannins stemming from the deep clay soils—which also influence the mid-palate—where they meet the limestone, which then extends the finish, lending a touch of elegance to the tannins’ richness. Opened in December, the wine closed up again in January; as with any Premier Cru Classé, patience is required.

About the estate:

Juliette Bécot now successfully carries on the rich, indulgent, intense, and flavorful character of this top-of-the-class wine, which is in excellent form

Decanter

About the wine:

Rich plum color. This wine takes its time to open up; it’s quite subtle at first, but then bursts with juicy fruit. Distinct salinity that hints at the slate of the limestone terroir, alongside well-defined aromas of peony blossoms. Elegant and succulent. Second vintage with Jean de Cournuaud as technical director. Yield of 46 hl/ha. 65% new oak, a mix of barriques and 20-hl barrels. pH 3.77. Harvested September 18–21, with all the Merlot picked in 3.5 days instead of the usual 11 days (and in fact spread over a month in 2018), with only 20 minutes between picking and transfer to the vat. Thomas Duclos, consultant. 2028–2044

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

Beautifully situated in the central-western part of the Saint-Emilion limestone plateau, the vineyard is masterfully managed by the Bécot brothers, Dominique and Gérard, who craft an expressive wine characterized by integrity and density. Gérard Bécot officially retired on January 2, 2014. Overall management has been entrusted to his son-in-law, Julien Barthe, husband of Juliette Bécot, who continues to oversee the winemaking process. Dominique Bécot, Gérard’s brother, remains at the helm of the vineyard. His children, Pierre and Caroline, also work on the estate. In January 2014, Beauséjour acquired Château Haut-Pourret, a 2.5-hectare property on the southern slope, whose grapes will be vinified in the La Gomerie cellar under the label Le Bécot de Beau-Séjour. Winemaking methods are evolving, aiming for an elegant expression of the fruit while seeking to add body to the firmness and length of wines produced from limestone soils. Maintaining its status as a Premier Grand Cru Classé in 2012, the château obtained authorization to incorporate the La Gomerie parcel into its land registry.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Aromas of plum, red currant, pine cone, mushroom, and bark. A hint of licorice as well. It is medium-bodied with very tight tannins. Fresh, with fantastic tension and vibrancy. Refined and concentrated. Spicy and slightly salty on the finish. Best enjoyed in 2026.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A purity of ripe, velvety red berries blends with the summery fragrance of a radiant woman, with notes of rose and dahlia. Fresh, enticing, comforting, and pure on the palate, it finishes with a mineral aftertaste, featuring chalky nuances and soft, cat’s-tongue-like tannins.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Right from the start, the bouquet of BSB (it’s easier to write that way—note that this addendum is taking me three times as long) sets the tone! Well… the nose, really. Given its complexity and subtlety, one can’t help but look forward to savoring it. Subtle notes of morello cherries, marzipan, blackberries, and graphite. On the palate, finesse takes center stage. The wine is delectable, precise, and well-supported by the tension of its acidic structure and the gracefulness of its tannins. What energy! The palate also stands out for its aromatic intensity, which is ever-present from the very first sip. What a great wine—it shines with its ability to hit the right notes and share its melody far and wide, without being loud! 2025–2045

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity and fresh, offering complexity, depth, a beautiful finesse of texture, and a certain intensity of finesse. It features notes of fresh, vibrant blackcurrant and wild blackberry, along with more subtle hints of gray pepper and violet, combined with touches of wild raspberry and fresh purple plum, as well as hints of graphite, toasted almond, and a hint of fresh cinnamon stick. There is a subtle, almost fresh citrus note in the background. On the palate, it is fruity, balanced, elegantly refined, and well-structured, offering juiciness, a lovely vibrancy, and luscious, vibrant fruit with a slightly exuberant character (though this exuberance is controlled). It has a lovely, lingering finish with finesse. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of vibrant, tart blackcurrant, red currants, and, more subtly, crisp, fresh raspberry, combined with a touch of tart plum, hints of fresh flowers and mild spices, and a very subtle hint of caramelization. The tannins are fine, precise, elegant, and exceptionally delicate.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Deep, dark, rich, full-bodied, concentrated, and lively, this wine is brimming with black and red stone fruits, crushed stone, chocolate, licorice, flowers, and forest leaves. It is powerful, refined, deep, and fresh, with a finish that resonates with all its ripe fruit and a touch of salinity in the long finish. This is the third vintage with Thomas Duclos as consultant, and it seems to get better every year. Beau-Séjour Bécot is really on a roll right now! Give this wine a few years in the bottle and enjoy it for at least two decades afterward. Best enjoyed between 2026 and 2055.