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 on deep Garonne gravel. A winemaking tradition dating back to the Middle Ages and careful selection and aging processes bring Château Beychevelle wine to perfection.

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

Château Beychevelle wines are characterized by their excellent quality and suitability for aging. These wines evolve positively over the years, developing full-bodied, powerful profiles and interesting structures. 

In the early 17th century, when the Duke of Epernon was the owner of Château de Beychevelle, every ship sailing on the Gironde River that passed in front of the nobleman's property had to lower its sails in homage to him. The name Beychevelle is said to come from a Gascon name meaning "lower sail."

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

• Cabernet Sauvignon 52%

• Merlot for 40%

• Cabernet Franc for 5%

• Petit Verdot for 3%

The Château Beychevelle estate is located on the left bank of the Gironde. Apart from the 90 hectares of vineyards, most of the property is wooded with pine trees and consists of meadows. The Gironde estuary is located close to the land, creating a microclimate that moderates the temperature, particularly in winter and summer.

The vines thrive on gravelly plateaus, with clay-gravel subsoil providing excellent drainage. This type of soil allows the heat of the day to be released at night, thus protecting the vines from temperature fluctuations between day and night.

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

The estate benefits from two Appellations d'Origine Contrôlée ( AOC): AOC Saint-Julien and AOC Haut-Médoc.

Two wines benefit from this AOC:

• Château Beychevelle is an elegant and powerful wine for aging. This great Château Beychevelle wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. With its dark color, this vintage offers subtle smoky notes and a fresh finish. 

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

Les Brulières de Beychevelle is an organically produced wine. The Les Brulières blend is composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. It is a fine Château Beychevelle wine with a bouquet combining notes of eucalyptus, caramel, and ripe fruit. It has a lovely lingering finish and brings freshness to the palate.