Château Beychevelle

Château Beychevelle, Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Julien in the Bordeaux region, is owned by Grands Millésimes de France, a subsidiary of the GMF, SUNTORY and ETHIAS Groups, and boasts an exceptional 90-hectare vineyard of deep Garonne gravel. A winegrowing tradition that dates back to the Middle Ages, combined with vigilant selection and ageing, ensure that Château Beychevelle wine reaches perfection.

Thanks to the determination of its management and the dedication of its entire staff, Château Beychevelle was awarded a certificate of compliance with the "Terra Vitis" specifications in 2005, as well as the "agriculture raisonnée" qualification. Other wines, produced with the same care, are attached to this estate: a second AOC Saint-Julien wine, Amiral de Beychevelle, and an AOC Haut-Médoc wine, Brulières de Beychevelle. Château Beychevelle is made 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' ageing in oak barrels, half of which are renewed every year.

Château Beychevelle wines are characterized by their excellent quality and ageing potential. These wines evolve positively over the years, developing fleshy, powerful profiles and interesting structures. 

In the early years of the 17th century, when the Duc d'Epernon was the owner of Château de Beychevelle, every ship sailing on the Gironde that passed the nobleman's property had to lower its sails to pay homage. The name Beychevelle is said to derive from a Gascon name meaning "lowered sail".

The lands of this château are located on the left bank of the Gironde, in the Bordeaux region. The fruit of the vine is grown in the Saint-Julien and Haut-Médoc appellations. The estate comprises 90 hectares of vines on a total of 250 hectares of land. The following grape varieties flourish here:

- Cabernet - Sauvignon for 52%.

- Merlot 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 vines, most of the property is wooded with pine and consists of meadows. The Gironde estuary lies close to the land, creating a microclimate that moderates temperatures, particularly in winter and summer.

The vines flourish on gravelly plateaus, with a clay-gravel subsoil that ensures excellent drainage. This type of soil allows the heat of the day to be absorbed at night, sparing the vines from the temperature differences between day and night.

Château Beychevelle works in harmony with the environment to ensure optimum preservation of its terroir. It was decided to stop using herbicides, to reduce the use of pesticides and to convert 1/3 of the vineyard to organic farming. The estate also obtained ISO 14001 certification in recognition of its environmental management system applied throughout the vineyard.

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

Two wines benefit from this AOC:

- Château Beychevelle is an elegant, powerful wine for laying down. This Château Beychevelle grand vin is a blend of Carbernet-Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. With its dark color, this cru offers subtle smoky notes and a fresh impression on the finish. 

- L'Amiral de Beychevelle is a blend of Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot. This garnet-colored cru offers lovely red fruit notes and a warm mouthfeel. The finish reveals vigorous tannins.

Les Brulières de Beychevelle is an organic wine. The Brulières blend is composed of Cabernet-Sauvignon and Merlot. This is a Château Beychevelle grand vin with a bouquet combining notes of eucalyptus, caramel and ripe fruit. It has a long, fresh finish.