2022, Château Beauséjour-Bécot, SAINT-ÉMILION, Grand Cru

Bordeaux Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon

Owned by the Becot family since 1969. Beau-Sejour Becot is situated close to Canon and Clos Fourtet to the west of the village of St Emilion. 76% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon - the 2022 blend.

The 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot has a bit more Cabernet Franc than most years, which comes through immediately in the wine's aromatic profile. Dark, rich and expressive, the 2022 is seriously impressive. Crushed flowers, herbs, mint, blood orange and red-toned fruit all build into a sumptuous, majestic finish that just explodes on the back end. The 2022 is one of the very finest editions of Beau-Séjour Bécot I can remember tasting. It is a great, great wine. 98-100 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

With the 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot, this estate has taken another step up the ranks in Saint-Émilion, producing a wine of breathtaking perfume and harmony that will be worth a special effort to seek out. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries, violets, lilac, raw cocoa and forest floor, it's medium to full-bodied, seamless and complete, with an ample and enveloping core of weightless fruit, beautifully powdery tannins and a long, saline, resonant finish. 96-98 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

This has double the amount of Cabernet Franc in the blend as of this year after vineyard restructuring, and the chalkiness of the limestone helps underline the curling peony and violet floral character on the opening beats, balancing the intensity of the vintage. Plenty of blueberry and damson fruit, with bitter cocoa bean and coffee, and smoked dried herbs. Highly successful. 96 Jane Anson.

Drinking Window: 2032 - 2052