Chateau Beausejour: A New Golden Era for a Saint-Emilion Icon
Perched high on the limestone plateau of Saint-Emilion, Chateau Beausejour stands as one of Bordeaux’s most captivating estates. With just seven hectares of vines, this Premier Grand Cru Classe property produces wines that balance depth with finesse, power with precision. Its clay-limestone soils, steep terraces and old vines combine to create a wine that is both profoundly structured and unmistakably elegant, a pure reflection of one of the Right Bank’s greatest terroirs.
The history of Chateau Beausejour stretches back to the 19th century, yet its modern identity is defined by the seamless blend of tradition and renewal. For decades, the estate earned a reputation for producing deeply expressive Merlot-Cabernet Franc blends that could rival the greatest names of the appellation. The vineyard’s enviable position, just beside Chateau Angelus and Canon, ensures exceptional sunlight exposure and drainage, while the limestone bedrock imparts a vibrant, saline minerality that defines the house style.
A new era with Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse
In 2021, a new chapter began. The estate officially shortened its name from Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse to Chateau Beausejour, symbolising both a respect for its legacy and a vision for the future. That same year, Josephine Duffau-Lagarrosse, one of Bordeaux’s youngest proprietors, took full control of the property. Her arrival signalled a shift in philosophy, a move toward more detail, precision and purity in both vineyard and cellar.
Josephine’s approach is rooted in observation and care. Vineyard practices have been overhauled, with a focus on organic principles, smaller yields and manual precision in every step. Each parcel is harvested at optimal ripeness, and the grapes are handled with the gentlest touch to preserve their natural character. Her aim is to let the site speak clearly through the wine rather than through the imprint of winemaking technique.
In the cellar, she has refined every stage of the process. Fermentation is guided by native yeasts, extraction is measured and oak influence is carefully balanced. The result is a style defined by tension, clarity and elegance. The wines retain their hallmark depth but now shine with greater freshness and energy. The limestone plateau lends a distinctive chalky edge, framing ripe fruit with minerality and lift.
Josephine’s first full vintage, 2022, marked a turning point. Critics were unanimous in their praise, with many awarding perfect scores. The wine’s precision, layered complexity and vibrant energy captured attention across the wine world, announcing Chateau Beausejour’s return to the very top of Saint-Emilion’s hierarchy. It was a remarkable achievement for a young winemaker in her first complete year at the helm.
Chateau Beausejour today stands at the intersection of heritage and innovation. Josephine has brought a new sensitivity to one of Bordeaux’s most historic vineyards, proving that evolution can honour tradition rather than replace it. The estate’s wines now embody both the strength of the past and the promise of the future, with a purity and poise that make them some of the most thrilling in Saint-Emilion.