Boasting a rather nice-looking, ancient ship on its front, a bottle of Château Beychevelle certainly is eye-catching. But it's not just for show, however, this esteemed house and it's ship has quite the history!

A cornerstone of the Saint-Julien appellation in the Bordeaux region of France, Château Beychevelle is as old as they come. Classified as a Quatrième Cru (Fourth Growth) in the esteemed 1855 Bordeaux Wine Official Classification, its wines have long been celebrated for their quality.

The 1855 Bordeaux Wine Official Classification was borne from Emperor Napoleon III's request for a showcase of France's finest Bordeaux wines at the 1855 Paris Exposition Universelle. Wines were ranked based on a château's reputation and market price, then considered a direct reflection of quality. This system categorized wines into five tiers, from First Growths to Fifth Growths.

An illustration of the great old Bordeaux houses. (Image Source: Wikipedia)

The 1855 Bordeaux Wine Official Classification, born from Emperor Napoleon III's request for a showcase of France's finest Bordeaux wines at the 1855 Paris Exposition Universelle, ranked wines based on a château's reputation and market price, then considered a direct reflection of quality. This system categorized wines into five tiers, from First Growths to Fifth Growths.

The Beychevelle house itself was founded in 1565 by Bishop François of Foix-Candale, but has passed through many hands since, some of which include the Dukes of Epernon, and renowned Admiral Jean-Louis Nogaret de la Valette.

It was because of this Admiral that the house got its signature boat on its label. The château's name, "Beychevelle," derives from the Gascon phrase "baisse voile" (french for 'lower the sails'). It was said that as a tribute to the esteemed Admiral passing boats would lower their sails as a mark of respect in recognition of his estate.

In 1875, Beychevelle was acquired by Armand Heine, marking the arrival of prominent banking families into the world of wines, such as the Rothschilds in Pauillac and the Pereire brothers at Palmer. As it turns out, they were quickly recognising the lucrative opportunities in the Bordeaux wine trade.

The estate would eventually trade hands, to that of the Achille-Fould family. It is said that Aymar Achille-Fould's wife, the Louisiana born Marie-Amelie Kohn was not quite a fan of sea travel. And as such, to ease her homesickness upon their return to France, Achille-Fould would commission a new wing for Château Beychevelle. Inspired by her Louisiana roots, Marie-Amélie decorated this wing in a style reminiscent of her American homeland. It is said that Chateau Beychevelle's aesthetics have been greatly shaped by the numerous esteemed women who have graced the estate through its illustrious history.

Today, Château Beychevelle belongs to Grands Millésimes de France, which is part of the Castel and Suntory groups.

Currently, the estate spans a total of 250 hectares, with approximately 90 hectares dedicated to vineyards. The remaining land is a diverse mix of grasslands for cows, and forests featuring pine, poplar, ash, and walnut trees. They even have an iconic cedar tree on the property that's 200 years old!

The vines at Château Beychevelle boast an average age of 30 years and are planted at high densities, ranging from 8,300 to 10,000 vines per hectare.  They follow the traditional Médoc blend, with 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and a smaller proportion of Petit Verdot at 3%.

The high density planting is said to encourage deep root systems, allowing the vines to access deeper nutrients from within the soil and better withstand challenging weather conditions, such as summer droughts.

The heart of the vineyards lie on two plateaus of deep Garonne gravel dating back to the prehistoric Gunzian period. These renowned gravelly hillsides, situated near the Gironde estuary, are prized for cultivating classic Bordeaux varieties.

This special gravel also does a great job at reflecting the sun's warmth at night, while ensuring excellent drainage which fosters optimal grape ripening. This terroir produces powerful yet elegantly balanced wines with a silky texture.

Right, so what does all this contribute to the house's wines?

Let's get stuck in!

Château Beychevelle Grand Vin, Saint-Julien, 2008 – Review

This bottle is a blend of 50% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.

Vintage Notes

2018 is regarded as one of the best vintages of Château Beychevelle. After a humid first-half of the season, the vines enjoyed perfect climate and growing conditions for the next 4 months with plenty of warmth under the sun. Soil conditions were dry but water reserves accumulated over spring allowed for optimal growing conditions for great concentration and freshness.

Tasting Notes

Nose: Intense and layered floral aromas driven by red fruits. Opens with a bouquet of cassis and black cherries. Delicate floral notes emerge as it breathes, giving us rose-filled potpourri and shaved dark chocolate. There’s also some subtle, spicy undertones of cinnamon, espresso and dried oolong tea leaves.

Palate: Full-bodied and dense, echoing the fruitiness and heady potpourri notes from the nose, albeit with a balanced and moderated fruitiness without overwhelming emphasis on the fruit. It’s got an initial burst of tart red fruits, red cherries and raspberries, is followed by shaved dark chocolate once again now reminiscent of Black Forest gâteau. Texture is remarkably silky and substantial! Mid palate reveals some notes of licorice and herbaceousness.

Finish: Long and perfumed, with firm but fine-grained tannins continuing to provide structure and grip. Some lingering notes of potpourri and dried fruits persist, accompanied by a touch of oak spice.

My Thoughts

The Château Beychevelle 2018 is quite a captivating wine that embodies the hallmark characteristics of Saint-Julien wines, which they often describe as "power in reserve." Aromas are incredibly evocative, those rich, complex notes of fruit, flowers and spices. The impressive palate is what takes the cake for me, showcasing a harmonious balance of rich fruit, fresh racy acidity and firm yet refined tannins. The oak spice notes and the inherent earthiness also add a touch of balance to ensure the wine remains very harmonious through and through.

A very precise wine from a fantastic vintage indeed! The presence of firm tannins also promise a lot more complexity in the years to come, still.

*Suspiciously racoon-like noises*

Contributed by @Definitelynotthreeracoons