Château Beychevelle
In the legend
The story of Château Beychevelle begins with a legend. At the beginning of the 17th century, the first Duke of Épernon owned it. It is said that his power was such that ships had to lower their sails when approaching, signifying respect and allegiance to the Duke. This is how the château acquired the name Beychevelle, which translates to “lower sail” in Gascon. At the same time, it also acquired its emblem: a ship with a griffin prow.
Powerful families later lived there, notably Jean-Louis Nogaret de la Valette, Governor of Guyenne and Grand Admiral of France. It was only in the 18th century that Beychevelle became known for its wine. It was at this same time that the magnificent building ofChâteau Beychevelle, one of the most impressive in the Médoc. It was under the direction of Pierre-François Guestier, of the Barton and Guestier trading house, that it was classified as a Fourth Growth in 1855. The owning families continued to succeed one another, each bringing their share of renovations, until 1986, when the company of Grands Millésimes de France, the current owners, acquired it.
Great Vintages of France
A dedicated team
Since the 1980s, Château Beychevelle has belonged to the company ofGreat Vintages of France, also owner of Châteaux Beaumont and Barrières Frères. At the time of its acquisition, the subsidiary belonged to the Covéa (53%), Suntory (37%), and Ethias (10%) groups. In 2011, Grands Millésimes de France was taken over equally by the Castel group and Suntory. Thanks to the determination of its management and staff, Château Beychevelle received a certificate of compliance with the specifications as early as 2005.Terra Vitis", a guarantee of respect for the land, its culture, its people, society, and consumers. Today, many prestigious events take place at Château Beychevelle, and it enjoys a fine reputation. At its peak, it recently commissioned the construction of a new winery designed by the architectArnaud Boulain.
The vineyard
AOC Saint-Julien and Haut-Médoc
The estate is located in the far south of theSaint Julien appellationIts soil is composed of deep Garonne gravel, a characteristic of the terroir that acts as a climate regulator and protector. It covers 250 hectares, but its vines only cover 90. These vines are around thirty years old and benefit from sustainable farming practices. Their typical Médoc blend consists of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and a touch of Petit Verdot. After traditional vinification, the wine is aged for 18 months in oak barrels, half of which are renewed each year. Aside from itsfirst wine Château BeychevelleTwo other wines are associated with the estate. The second wine, also inSaint-Julien AOCThe second wine is called Amiral de Beychevelle. It is less complex but possesses the same finesse as its older sibling. Finally, Les Brulières de Beychevelle, vinified and aged in a separate cellar, is a wineAOC Haut-MédocWithout being showy, the wines remain elegant and easy to drink. They age very well, and can be cellared for more than fifteen years.
