Château Beychevelle

Château Beychevelle is a Bordeaux wine estate located in the Médoc, in the commune of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, where the first château was built in 1565 by Bishop François de Foix-Candale. Classified as a 4th Growth in the 1855 classification, the estate now covers 250 hectares, including 90 hectares of vines entirely dedicated to red wine, and belongs to Grands Millésimes de France, owned by the Castel and Suntory groups.

A name born from a maritime salute

The château's name comes from the Gascon expression "bêcha vêla", meaning "lower the sails". In the early 17th century, the first Duke of Épernon, Jean-Louis Nogaret de la Valette, Grand Admiral of France, owned the estate. Ships sailing along the Gironde past his property were required to lower their sails as a sign of respect, a tradition that gave the estate both its name and its emblem: a ship with a griffin figurehead, still featured on the label today.

Gravel terroir overlooking the estuary

The vineyard lies on a ridge of deep Garonne gravel facing the Gironde estuary, a classic terroir for the great wines of the Médoc. The vineyard is planted predominantly with Cabernet Sauvignon (around 60%), complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc and a small proportion of Petit Verdot. The wines are aged for 18 months in oak barrels, 70% of which are renewed each year, producing wines known for their supple tannins, elegance and excellent ageing potential, often exceeding ten years.

Three wines, three different styles

The grand vin, Château Beychevelle, remains the estate's flagship wine. Its second wine, Amiral de Beychevelle, is made from the property's younger vines and benefits from the same rigorous selection and ageing methods, offering a more approachable style while maintaining the same attention to detail. A third cuvée, Les Brulières de Beychevelle, is organically produced on 12 hectares in the Haut-Médoc appellation and completes the range with a wine from a cooler terroir a few kilometres from the main vineyard.

How to enjoy a Beychevelle

This Saint-Julien is best decanted for around 45 minutes before serving at approximately 18°C, allowing its tannins to soften fully. It pairs naturally with red meat, game or poultry in sauce, in keeping with the great classics of Bordeaux cuisine.