Beychevelle 1968
Beychevelle 1968
Beychevelle 2012 -5% DISCOUNT !
Château Beychevelle is one of the most iconic estates in the Saint-Julien appellation, classified as a 4th Grand Cru Classé du Médoc since 1855. Its exceptional terroir, composed of deep Garonne gravels on a gentle ridge overlooking the Gironde, imparts a characteristic elegance and finesse to its wines. The typical blend built around Cabernet Sauvignon, complemented by Merlot, produces wines of great harmony, renowned for their evocative floral bouquet of iris and their remarkable ageing potential. The estate's consistent quality over several decades makes it a reliable benchmark among the great Bordeaux wines.
L'Amiral de Beychevelle is the second wine of Château Beychevelle, designed to offer a more accessible approach and faster maturity. Sourced from the same emblematic plots of Saint-Julien, it shares the DNA of the Fine Wine but presents a generally more supple profile, with less tight tannins and a more precocious aromatic expression. It is an excellent introduction to the estate's style for enthusiasts wishing to discover Beychevelle without waiting many years of cellar ageing. The Fine Wine, for its part, often requires 10 to 20 years of ageing to express its full potential.
The aging potential of a Château Beychevelle depends greatly on the vintage, but the greatest years offer a particularly impressive cellaring potential. Powerful vintages such as 1986, 1996, or 2005 can be kept for 20 to 30 years under proper conditions. It is recommended to store the bottles in a cellar with a stable temperature of around 12°C, away from light and vibrations, with a humidity level maintained between 70 and 80%. For lighter vintages, a drinking window of 8 to 15 years after the harvest generally allows you to enjoy the wine at its peak.
Among the most sought-after vintages of Château Beychevelle, several great years stand out clearly. The 1982 is often cited as an absolute reference, with exceptional richness and concentration. The 1986 offers a remarkable tannic structure that has allowed it to age very well. The 2000, a historic vintage for Bordeaux, produced at Beychevelle a wine of great aromatic depth. The 1996 and 2005 are also highly appreciated by enthusiasts for their balance between power and freshness. These great years perfectly illustrate the aristocratic style of the estate.
To bring out the best in a Château Beychevelle, it is recommended to serve it between 17 and 18°C, in a large Bordeaux glass that encourages the development of its complex aromas. Decanting for one to two hours is recommended for younger vintages, in order to open up the tannins and reveal its notes of blackcurrant, cedar and gentle spices. At the table, this Saint-Julien pairs ideally with roasted red meats, a herb-crusted leg of lamb, game birds or aged pressed-curd cheeses. Its finesse also makes it an excellent companion to elaborate sauce-based preparations.
To buy Château Beychevelle online, it is essential to turn to specialist wine merchants with impeccable storage conditions and capable of guaranteeing the complete traceability of the bottles. Our website offers a rigorous selection of available vintages of Château Beychevelle, from the Fine Wine to the Amiral de Beychevelle. Each order is shipped in secure packaging to preserve the integrity of the wine during transport.
The history of Château Beychevelle dates back to 1565, when Bishop François de Foix-Candale had the first building constructed on these prestigious lands. It was, however, under the aegis of Jean-Louis Nogaret de La Valette, Duke of Épernon and Admiral of France, that the estate truly flourished. According to legend, ships sailing on the Gironde, when passing before the duke's lands, would lower their sails as a sign of allegiance. This gesture gave rise to the name "Beychevelle", which means "Baisse voile" in Gascon.
The château then passed through the centuries, moving through the hands of great and influential families, including the Dukes of Épernon, the Marquis de Brassier, and the Heine family, who contributed to the expansion and embellishment of the estate. In 1855, during the famous Bordeaux wine classification, Château Beychevelle was crowned 4th Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Julien, an honour that confirms its exceptional status.
In the 1970s, the estate was managed by Aymar Achille-Fould, before passing under the stewardship of Grands Millésimes de France in 1989, now owned in equal shares by the Castel and Suntory groups. Thanks to numerous renovations, including a brand-new cellar inaugurated in 2017, Château Beychevelle has continually improved the quality of its wines, while preserving its legendary heritage.
The 2016 and 2015 vintages of Château Beychevelle were awarded a score of 95/100 by Robert Parker, highlighting the finesse and elegance of this classified Saint-Julien cru.
The Château Beychevelle vineyard extends over 90 hectares on the left bank, in an exceptional environment composed of deep Garonne gravels, ideal for the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon, the king grape variety of the Médoc. This privileged terroir, situated on the banks of the Gironde, plays a key role in the climatic regulation of the estate. The gravel, by releasing the solar heat stored during the day, allows the grapes to ripen under optimal conditions, while the proximity of the estuary protects the vines from spring frosts.
The vineyard is predominantly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon (57%), complemented by 40% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. The average age of the vines is 30 years, ensuring a fine concentration of aromas in the grapes. Planted at high density, the vines, thanks to a deep root system, draw nutrients from deep in the soil necessary for their development, while being capable of withstanding periods of summer drought.
This terroir, coupled with reasoned farming practices certified to ISO 14001, ensures respect for the environment and the preservation of local biodiversity. Part of the vineyard is also cultivated using organic farming, reflecting the estate's commitment to sustainability.
The winemaking process at Château Beychevelle reflects the perfect alliance between tradition and innovation. Harvesting is carried out by hand, with rigorous sorting of the bunches to select only the highest-quality grapes. Winemaking is performed on a plot-by-plot basis, allowing the full richness of the estate's different terroirs to be expressed.
Since 2017, the estate has had an ultramodern cellar, designed by architect Arnaud Boulain. This cellar, with its large glass walls, offers transparency in the winemaking process, symbolising both the technical excellence and the architectural beauty of the estate.
Fermentation takes place in 59 stainless steel tanks of varying sizes, adapted to the different plots of the vineyard. Precise temperature control and gentle extraction preserve the finesse of the aromas and the structure of the tannins. The wines are then aged in French oak barrels, of which 50% are new, for a period of 18 months. This method ensures a fine aromatic complexity and a silky structure, while allowing the wines to develop their ageing potential.
Château Beychevelle produces several cuvées, all marked by great finesse and an elegance characteristic of the finest Saint-Julien wines.
Château Beychevelle
The estate's fine wine, Château Beychevelle, is drawn from the finest plots and the oldest vines. Renowned for its elegance and aromatic complexity, it offers a fine tannic structure, combining power and finesse. This wine reveals aromas of dark fruits, blackcurrant and blackberry, complemented by spiced notes and hints of vanilla from its barrel ageing. With an ageing potential of several decades, it reveals itself fully after around ten years.
Amiral de Beychevelle
The second wine of the estate, l'Amiral de Beychevelle, is drawn primarily from young vines. It benefits from the same care as its elder, with rigorous winemaking and traditional ageing. More approachable in its youth, it reveals a fine liveliness and fruity aromas. This wine, less complex than the fine wine, can be enjoyed from its earliest years, but also presents good ageing potential.
Brulières de Beychevelle
The Brulières de Beychevelle vineyard, located a few kilometres from the main estate, benefits from a cooler climate, less influenced by the Gironde estuary. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, this cuvée offers a fruity and fresh profile, with a fine Médoc typicity. Vinified in a separate cellar, it receives the same attention as the other cuvées of the estate.
Saint-Julien, a flagship appellation of the Médoc in Bordeaux, is renowned for its red wines of great finesse and longevity. Certain vintages stand out in particular for their exceptional quality, offering powerful, elegant and complex wines. Among the finest vintages, one finds years such as 1975, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1989, and 1990, which are true benchmarks for lovers of age-worthy wines. More recent years are no less impressive, with outstanding vintages such as 1995, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, all acclaimed for their balance and ageing potential. The years 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 also stand out for their richness and complexity, continuing to make Saint-Julien an essential reference in the world of wine.
Discover all of the Fourth Grands Crus Classés of Bordeaux, each representing the richness of the great terroirs of the Médoc. In Saint-Julien, explore the wines of Château Beychevelle, Château Branaire-Ducru, and Château Talbot. In Pauillac, Château Duhart-Milon offers wines with a character typical of the appellation, while Château Lafon-Rochet in Saint-Estèphe produces robust crus. In the Haut-Médoc, Château La Tour Carnet stands out, while the renown of Margaux extends with the estates Château Marquis de Terme, Château Pouget, Château Prieuré-Lichine, and Château Saint-Pierre. Each of these estates reflects in its own way the identity of the Fourth Grands Crus Classés.
Château Beychevelle embodies the excellence of Bordeaux wines, combining tradition, innovation and respect for the environment. Thanks to its exceptional terroir and rich history, this fourth Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Julien produces wines of great finesse that captivate enthusiasts from around the world. Whether through its fine wine, l'Amiral de Beychevelle or the Brulières, each cuvée expresses the full complexity and elegance of this unique terroir.
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