Beau-Séjour Bécot
About Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
Resting almost entirely on the grand limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion, few properties within the ancient appellation have advanced the movement of modern Right Bank Bordeaux as stridently and impressively as Beau-Séjour Bécot.
Centuries ago, under the watchful eyes of the monks of St. Martin, the vineyards of modern-day “BSB” were tended together with those of legendary neighbour Château Canon. Gérard Bécot took over the property, as we might recognise it, in 1970 and took the disastrous decision to merge all the family holding in St-Émilion into the Château. This decision saw it stripped of its classification in 1986.
The road to redemption followed swiftly afterwards, with long-term family friend and iconic consultant Michel Rolland lobbying on their behalf. At the following classification, Beau-Séjour Bécot was promoted again in 1996.
Juliette Bécot and Julien Barthe took the helm in 2014 and have pressed every advantage available to them from the exceptional terroir and string of strong vintages which followed. Currently, Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is a strong contender for best-value wine in St-Émilion.
Viniculture
The 20-hectare vineyard is roughly 73% Merlot, 21% Cabernet Franc and 6% Cabernet Sauvignon. The vines average 45 years of age, but with some parcels over 70 years old. The estate is located on the limestone plateau of Saint-Émilion with a terroir of clay with deep, limestone soils. Below the surface, there is an endless array of limestone tunnels and quarries, which contributes to making the wine so special.
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)
The 2020 Beau-Sejour Becot is a dense, powerful wine. A rush of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and sweet oak builds as this towering, vertically explosive Saint-Émilion opens in the glass. This is an especially broad, expansive Saint-Émilion, much of that attributable to the clay in these soils. The 2020 is magnificent in its intensity and overall volume. Superb.Inc. VAT£372.64 -
(3x150cl) 2023
Wine Advocate (96-98)
The first vintage produced in the estate's highly functional new winery, the 2023 Beau-Séjour Bécot has turned out beautifully and looks likely to rival or surpass the brilliant 2022. Unfurling in the glass with notes of raspberries, dark berries and minty cherries mingled with notions of iris, wisteria and lilac, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with a suave attack that prefaces a cool, complete core of fruit that's pure, perfumed and mineral, concluding with a long, saline finish. It's a blend of 77% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc that was harvested from September 7 to October 4, sub-block by sub-block.Expected Price Range£283 - £336
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Vinous - Antonio Galloni (97)
The 2020 Beau-Sejour Becot is a dense, powerful wine. A rush of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and sweet oak builds as this towering, vertically explosive Saint-Émilion opens in the glass. This is an especially broad, expansive Saint-Émilion, much of that attributable to the clay in these soils. The 2020 is magnificent in its intensity and overall volume. Superb.In Bond£294.50 -
(3x150cl) 2023
Wine Advocate (96-98)
The first vintage produced in the estate's highly functional new winery, the 2023 Beau-Séjour Bécot has turned out beautifully and looks likely to rival or surpass the brilliant 2022. Unfurling in the glass with notes of raspberries, dark berries and minty cherries mingled with notions of iris, wisteria and lilac, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with a suave attack that prefaces a cool, complete core of fruit that's pure, perfumed and mineral, concluding with a long, saline finish. It's a blend of 77% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc that was harvested from September 7 to October 4, sub-block by sub-block.Expected Price Range£283 - £336