Beychevelle

 

Château Beychevelle

Sometimes called the “Versailles de Médoc” due to the classically-styled chateau and garden architecture, this chateau is one of the Medoc’s most impressive. The estate dates back to 1565 during the reign of Henri III and was constructed at that time by Bishop François de Foix-Candale for its proprietor, the Duc d`Eperon who was the then Admiral of France. Such was the gravitas of the Duke that ships sailing before his chateau had to lower their sales under the order “Baisse Voile”, which was to become Beychevelle.

The estate has seen a number of prestigious and well-regarded owners in its history up to the present day, passing, in 1825, through the hands of Pierre-François Guestier, a noted négociant whose eponymous négociant house remains a Bordeaux actor today and the then Mayor of St. Julien. It was the work of Guestier that ensured the chateau’s inclusion in the 1855 Classification of the Medoc. The Heine family, related to Heinrich Heine, a well-known German poet, took the helm in the late 19^th century and following a death in the family came to be ran by Marie-Amélie Kohn from Louisiana. 

Still in the hands of the Heines after World War II, they hired a new team of workers among whom was Émile Peynaud, a noted professor, scientist and taster best known for his pioneering consultancy work that was to shape the face of modern Bordeaux in the latter half of the 20^th century. Peynaud was among the first to recognize what today we take for granted, that a wine should be consistent and clean from healthy grapes adopting the position of preeminence among quality growers today; good wine starts at the vineyard.

In 1970 Aymar Achille-Fould bought the estate and instigated one of Peynauds recommendations, the creation of a second wine, called Amiral de Beychevelle. The costs of running the estate led to the seeking out of new partners, which morphed between one group and another over the coming decades to today be fully-owned by Pierre Castel and Japanese drinks firm, Suntory, a deal made in February 2011.

The husbandry of the chateaux-owners down the centuries ensured Beychevelle’s lasting place among the leading Medoc chateaux and its emblem remains as it was then, a dragon-boat like ship with a griffon figurehead and lowered sail. The griffon in Greek mythology is the guardian of Dionysus’ wine vessel.

 

Style

Beychevelle is, above all, known for its supple, almost feminine style with a rich, ripe fruit sometimes hinting at chocolate.

 

Top-rated vintages

Vintage	RP	JR	market price £	£/ Parker points
2009	92-94+	16.5	680	7.31
2008	88-90	17	750	8.43
2007	89	16.5	700	7.87
2006	90	16	650	7.22
2005	90	17	800	8.89
2002	86	16	700	8.14
2004	89	17	700	7.87
2003	90	16	650	7.23
2004	88	16.5	830	9.44
2000	91	17	960	10.55

as per July 2011

 

Market

Beychevelle is a wine not lacking in history, which, in the 21^st century, is finding considerable favour in world markets, old and new.

 

Liv-ex Power 100 ranking

2010	total score	2009	move
47	285	53	+6

The Liv-ex Power 100 is a list of the top performers over the previous year and their position starting the current year.  The indice traces the movement of chateau and other wines using a sophisticated weighting system based on average prices, production, notional availability and Parker Points.

 

Release price evolution

Vintage	ex Negociant € / btl	London release price £ / cs
2009	44	540
2008	21.50	249
2007	25.50	259
2006	26.50	240
2005	29.00

 

Beychevelle at a glance

Commune: St. Julien

Soils: fine, evenly dispersed Garonne gravel bed with divergent soil types consistinmg of rock, sand and clay, planted on deep, gravel based soils.

Climate: maritime, moderated by the Gironde estuary and Atlantic Ocean, pine forests provide insulation from strong winds off the ocean and help to lessen summer temperatures.

District: Medoc

Classification: 4th Cru Classe

Owner: Castel and Suntory

Winemaker: Philippe Blanc

Vineyard: Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 28%, Cabernet Franc 8% and Petit Verdot 4%.

Vinification and ageing: 18 months in oak (55% new). 

Production: 20,000 cases

Other wines: Amiral de Beychevelle