Château Beychevelle
The unusual name of this chateau comes from the French phrase “Baisse-Voile” (“lowering of sails”) and reflects the estate’s first owner, the first Duke of Eperon. He was a 16th century admiral and according to local legion as ships sailed past the property on the Gironne river they would show their respect by lowering their sails. This curious historical fact also inspired Beychevelle’s emblem of a ship with a griffon figurehead.
Beychevelle has long been known for its connections with the belles artes as well as fine wine. In his time the Duke invited Molière and his actors to perform here and subsequent owners beautified the chateau building itself, earning Beychevelle the nickname of the “Versailles of Bordeaux”.
Today Chateau Beychevelle is something of an insider’s secret in the fine wine world. During the 2018 Bordeaux En Primeur campaign allocations of Chateau Beychevelle sold out within hours, and its popularity is set to continue to soar as the estate gains a greater profile and international recognition. In total the estate has 250 hectares in the southeast corner of Saint-Julien to the south of Branaire-Ducru. The typical Beychevelle style is a powerful, smooth and richly-textured wine with a hefty dose of Cabernet Sauvignon bringing excellent ageability especially in the better vintages.