| Region of Production: | Saint-Julien AOP |
| Winery Location: | Saint-Julien |
| Year Established: | 1446 |
| Classification: | fourth growth, Médoc 1855 |
Vineyard Holdings
90 ha (75 ha in Saint-Julien, the remainder in Haut-Médoc)
- 62% Cabernet Sauvignon
- 31% Merlot
- 5% Cabernet Franc
- 2% Petit Verdot
Top Wines Produced
- Château Beychevelle
- Amiral de Beychevelle: Second wine
- Les Brulières de Beychevelle: Haut-Médoc AOC wine from a separate property, Château Beaumont.
Average Total Production
- 600,000 bottles
Summary
The histories of Château Beychevelle, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, and Château Branaire-Ducru are intertwined – they were once joined as the estate of the Duc d’Epernon, Admiral of France. He acquired the estate and its château through marriage in 1587. Baisse voile, now Beychevelle, means “lower the sails” – a supposed gesture of respect from passing boats to the high-ranking naval officer, depicted on the grand vin label today. The Beaucaillou and Branaire properties were carved off with the duke’s demise in the late 1600s, and the remaining Beychevelle property was confiscated by the state during the revolution a century later. After multiple changes of ownership in the 19th and 20th centuries, a partnership between Japanese whisky company Suntory and French wine conglomerate Castel Group now controls the estate.
Château Beychevelle is located just south of Ducru-Beaucaillou, east of the hamlet of Beychevelle in the southern part of the appellation. The proprietors also own the Haut-Médoc property Château Beaumont. The label features a “dragon boat,” and has thus experienced a recent surge of popularity in China.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Château Beychevelle has in recent years modernized its facilities and intensified its attention to the estate vineyards. Increasingly, the estate is adding Cabernet Sauvignon vines in place of Merlot and shifting toward organic farming practices. The wines are traditionally styled, but are gaining weight in recent vintages with a more severe fruit selection and higher levels of ripeness. The grand vin sees 50% new oak.
Producer Website: Château Beychevelle