Chateau Beau-Sejour BecotProducer from Bordeaux, France

Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
Bordeaux 1855 Classification: Premier Grand Cru Classé (B)

Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, located in the heart of the Saint-Émilion appellation on Bordeaux’s Right Bank, is a prestigious Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) estate. Known for producing wines that balance power and elegance, Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is one of Saint-Émilion’s most respected properties. The Bécot family’s stewardship of the estate since 1969 has elevated its reputation, making it a benchmark for the region’s distinctive limestone terroir.

History of Château Beau-Séjour Bécot

Château Beau-Séjour Bécot has a long and illustrious history, with roots that date back to the Middle Ages. The estate originally belonged to the Gères family and was known as Château Beau-Séjour. In 1869, it was renamed Château Beau-Séjour Bécot after being acquired by Doctor Jean-Baptiste Bécot.

The Bécot family has owned the estate for over a century, but it was under the leadership of Michel Bécot in the mid-20th century that the château experienced a renaissance. Michel expanded the vineyards by purchasing additional plots and modernising the winemaking process, raising the quality of the wines. In 1996, Château Beau-Séjour Bécot was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé (B), recognising its consistent excellence. Today, the estate is managed by his sons, Gérard and Dominique Bécot, continuing the family’s dedication to producing exceptional Saint-Émilion wines.

Terroir of Château Beau-Séjour Bécot

Château Beau-Séjour Bécot’s 22 hectares of vineyards are situated on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, a prized terroir that is crucial to the estate’s distinctive style. The vineyards benefit from a mix of limestone and clay soils, which provide excellent drainage and encourage deep root growth. This terroir helps to produce grapes with concentration, minerality, and freshness, all essential components of great Saint-Émilion wines.

The vineyard is planted with 70% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Franc, and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon, reflecting the Right Bank’s typical dominance of Merlot. The clay-limestone soils are particularly well-suited for Merlot, which thrives in these conditions, producing wines with a rich, round texture and ripe fruit flavours. The Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon add structure, aromatic complexity, and freshness to the blend, resulting in wines with balance and longevity.

Winemaking at Château Beau-Séjour Bécot

At Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, winemaking is a blend of tradition and innovation, with a focus on expressing the unique terroir of the estate. The grapes are hand-harvested and sorted to ensure only the best fruit is used in production. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats, which allow for precise control over the extraction of flavours, tannins, and colour.

After fermentation, the wine is aged for 18 to 22 months in French oak barrels, with about 70% new oak used each year. The use of new oak imparts complexity and structure to the wine without overpowering the fruit, allowing the terroir to shine through. The result is a wine that is both powerful and elegant, capable of ageing for decades while also being approachable in its youth.

Style of Wine Produced

Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is known for producing wines that are full-bodied, with a rich texture and a strong sense of minerality. The wines typically exhibit aromas of ripe red and black fruits, such as blackberry, plum, and cherry, along with notes of earth, tobacco, and spice. On the palate, the wines are layered and complex, with well-integrated tannins and a long, refined finish.

The Merlot in the blend provides a plush, velvety mouthfeel, while the Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon add structure, freshness, and depth. The wines of Château Beau-Séjour Bécot are celebrated for their balance of power and finesse, making them ideal for long-term cellaring but also enjoyable when young.