2023, Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, SAINT-ÉMILION, Grand Cru

Last Year EP $124.00-

This 22 hectare vineyard is very well situated close to Canon and Belair Monange, just to the west of the village of St Emilion.
The 2023 is 77% Merlot and 23% Cabernet franc.

The 2023 Beau-Séjour Bécot is fabulous. Rich, opulent and explosive to the core, the 2023 offers up a heady mélange of dark red/purplish fruit, spice, lavender, rose petal, blood orange and bright saline notes. As always, Cabernet Franc plays an important role in shaping the aromatic and flavour profile. The 2023 is an absolute stunner. Magnificent. 95-98 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

The first vintage produced in the estate's highly functional new winery, the 2023 Beau-Séjour Bécot has turned out beautifully and looks likely to rival or surpass the brilliant 2022. Unfurling in the glass with notes of raspberries, dark berries and minty cherries mingled with notions of iris, wisteria and lilac, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and velvety, with a suave attack that prefaces a cool, complete core of fruit that's pure, perfumed and mineral, concluding with a long, saline finish. 96-98 William Kelley, Wine Advocate.

Ruby red, glass staining, peony and violet flowers on the aromatics, plush velvety tannins that cushion plump damson and pomegranate fruits through to a juicy salinity on the finish. Estate identity in full effect here, shot through with the sheer pleasure of limestone. First year in the new cellar, Jean de Cournuaud technical director. 95 Jane Anson.

A wine with very bright and al-dente fruit. Aromas and flavours of redcurrants and minerals with lavender and chalk. Medium to full body and a solid core of tannins integrated with the dark fruit. Toned-muscle quality to the tannins. Fresh and vibrant at the end. Pure fruit. Energy. 96-97 James Suckling.

The 2023 Beau-Séjour Bécot has a crisp, well-defined bouquet with lifted red cherry, wild strawberry and crushed limestone aromas. This is classy and complex. The palate is medium-bodied with sapid red fruit, fine acidity and moderate grip. The texture is slightly chalky and reminds me of Troplong Mondot, which is no surprise given the similarities in their respective terroirs. This is a sophisticated and quite cerebral Saint-Émilion that should age with style. 92-94 Neal Martin.