Château Beychevelle

Château Beychevelle, a Saint-Julien Grand Cru Classé in the Bordeaux region and owned by Grands Millésimes de France—a subsidiary of the GMF, SUNTORY, and ETHIAS groups—boasts an exceptional 90-hectare vineyard planted in deep Garonne gravel soils. A winemaking tradition dating back to the Middle Ages, combined with meticulous selection and aging, brings Château Beychevelle wine to perfection.

Thanks to the commitment of its management and the dedication of its entire staff, Château Beychevelle obtained certification of compliance with the “Terra Vitis” specifications as early as 2005, as well as the designation of “sustainable agriculture.” Other wines, produced with the same care, are associated with this estate: a second wine, AOC Saint-Julien, Amiral de Beychevelle, and an AOC Haut-Médoc wine, Brulières de Beychevelle. Château Beychevelle wine is made from vines with an average age of 28 years. The grape varieties consist of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. At Château Beychevelle, traditional winemaking is followed by 18 months of aging in oak barrels, half of which are replaced each year.

The wines of Château Beychevelle are characterized by exceptional quality and are built to age well. These wines improve with age, developing full-bodied, powerful profiles and intriguing structures. 

In the early 17th century, when the Duke of Epernon was the owner of Château de Beychevelle, every ship sailing on the Gironde that passed in front of the nobleman’s estate was required to lower its sails as a sign of respect. The name Beychevelle is said to derive from a Gascon term meaning “lower sail.”

The estate’s vineyards are located on the left bank of the Gironde River, in the Bordeaux region. The grapes are grown in the Saint-Julien and Haut-Médoc appellations. The estate comprises 90 hectares of vineyards out of a total of 250 hectares of land. The following grape varieties thrive here:

• 52% Cabernet Sauvignon from

• 40% Merlot from the

• 5% Cabernet Franc from the

• 3% , and Petit Verdot

The Château Beychevelle estate is located on the left bank of the Gironde River. Aside from the 90 hectares of vineyards, most of the property is covered in pine forests and meadows. The Gironde estuary lies close to the estate, creating a microclimate that helps moderate temperatures, particularly during the winter and summer months.

The vines thrive on gravelly plateaus, where the subsoil is clay-gravel, ensuring excellent drainage. This type of soil releases the day’s heat at night, thereby protecting the vines from extreme temperature fluctuations between day and night.

Château Beychevelle works in harmony with the environment to ensure the optimal preservation of its terroir. As a result, the estate has decided to stop using herbicides, reduce the use of pesticides, and convert one-third of the vineyard to organic farming. The estate has also obtained ISO 14001 certification in recognition of its environmental management practices across the entire vineyard.

The estate holds two Appellations d’Origine Contrôlée designations: the Saint-Julien AOC and the Haut-Médoc AOC.

Two wines bear this AOC designation:

• Château Beychevelle is an elegant and powerful wine with excellent aging potential. This fine Château Beychevelle wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. With its deep color, this vintage offers subtle smoky notes and a refreshing finish. 

• L’Amiral de Beychevelle is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This wine, with its garnet color, offers lovely notes of red fruit and a warm sensation on the palate. The finish reveals robust tannins.

Les Brulières de Beychevelle is an organically grown wine. The Les Brulières blend is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. This Château Beychevelle grand cru offers a bouquet that combines notes of eucalyptus, caramel, and ripe fruit. It has a lovely, lingering finish and a refreshing quality.