Château Beau-Sejour Becot Saint-Émilion Grand Cru (Premier Grand Cru Classé) 2016 (750ml)

A property of reasonable size...

Total wine estate acreage: 37 acres (15 ha) including 30 acres (12 ha) of vines.
Vine density: 2225 vines per acre (5 500 pieds/ha).
Average age of the vines: 55 years.
Soil and subsoil: Chalky-clay on a limestone base.
The grape varieties: Merlot 70%, Cabernet Franc 30%.
An ideal location at Montagne Saint Émilion...

"Château Beauséjour" is situated on the left bank of Dordogne River, at the top of the Montagne Saint Émilion hillside, 2.5 miles (4 km) from Saint Émilion.

This estate is the perfect example of the appellation, both due to the imposing appearence prestigious look of the buildings (castle and chai) and to the outstanding location of the vineyard, stretching from outside Saint Martin's church (12th- century Romanesque church, in the heart of Montagne village) to the five mills of Calon (2 of which have been perfectly restored and... are in working order).
An outstanding terroir...

photo The various vineyard plots are named Paradis, Clos de l'Église, Clos 1901, Moulin, Caillou... and all of them have the characteristic of being located on the mountaintop of Montagne. They are composed of a 8 to 20 inches (20 to 50 cm) deep chalky-clay soil, laid on a fissured limestone base (the subsoil is full of quarries from which stones were used to build Bordeaux and Libourne in the previous centuries) wich redistributes water (drop by drop!) to the vines during the summer.

The plots are situated on a gentle slope, south and southwest facing, allowing natural drainage and a sunshine which are very suitable for the vines. The whole area is well ventilated (the numerous windmills attest to this...), ensuring to the vine a good, healthy environment, greatly reducing blight and allowing the grapes to be harvested at optimal ripeness.
Very old vines...

The age of the vines (some plots were planted in 1901, 1902, 1934 and 1946!) and this outstanding chalky-clay soil produce a distinctive wine, ideal for ageing, magnificently produced following the guidelines laid down by Stéphane Derenoncourt since the vintage 2005.

Château Beauséjour, created from this outstanding terroir, has now become one of the greatest Bordeaux wines.

The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, very well balanced, sensual and lively with a gentle, caressing finish of cedar and tobacco. There is good structure here, a Saint Emilion that should age with style.

Blend: 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon

Critical Acclaim

JS95
James Suckling
Extremely aromatic and lifted on the nose with wild fruit and flowers, as well as chalk and mushroom undertones. Full body and ultra-fine tannins with beautiful grace and balance. Shows structure yet refinement at the same time. Needs four to five years to come completely together, but already so beautiful. Drink after 2023.
WE95
Wine Enthusiast
This wine has a smoky quality, with ripe tannins and dense blackberry and spice flavors as well as wonderful freshness. The wine has considerable potential, rich in tannins and acidity. It will be ready to drink from 2025.
RP95
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 Beau-Sejour Becot (80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon) is just a little closed to begin, opening out to reveal beautiful chocolate-covered cherries, preserved plums and black raspberries scents with touches of stewed tea, tobacco, red roses and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied and jam-packed with perfumed fruit layers, it has a rock-solid frame of ripe, finely grained tannins and layer upon layer of provocative black fruit and savory layers on the finish.
JD95
Jeb Dunnuck
Showing spectacularly well on the two occasions I was able to taste it, the 2016 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot is a blend of 80% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged 16 months in 90% new oak, and hitting a healthy 14.5% natural alcohol. This straight-up classy, seamless, ultra-fine Saint Emilion offers a beautiful bouquet of red currants, white truffles, spice, and flowers. With brilliant limestone character, fabulous intensity on both the nose and palate, ultra-fine tannins, and a magical texture, it’s approachable today yet has another 20+ years of prime drinking.
WS94
Wine Spectator
This is a fresh and unencumbered style, with a beam of pure blackberry and raspberry fruit racing through, carried by a polished structure and infused with alluring black tea and incense tones. The finish is velvety, with graphite and tobacco notes buried within. Best from 2022 through 2036.
D94
Decanter

Right on the limestone plateau, this has a lovely delivery of extremely ripe black fruits dotted through with minerality and little pulses of electricity. Extremely successful, this will age well thanks to elongated tannins that are chalky in all the right places. Again, we have this slight austerity on the finish, a reminder than 2016 is not the right bank party we saw in 2015, but this is excellent with such a beautiful balance. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

CG91
Connoisseurs' Guide

Edging slightly to sweetness in its deep and juicy aromas but not in the least confected and keyed on pulpy, red cherry fruit with a scant inkling of milk chocolate just off to the side, the latest from Château Beau-Séjour-Bécot very much recalls its year-older incarnation if, perhaps, slightly less rich overall. It is once again a tantalizingly supple wine of a somewhat riper bent, and, although surprisingly easy to access now, it closes with enough tannic grip to make a convincing case that better awaits some four or five years hence.