Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot
Juliette Bécot inherited the winery from her father, Gérard, in 2015 and restructured the winemaking process to prioritize freshness and sophistication over sheer weight. She runs the winery alongside her husband, Julien Barthe. Since then, a significant portion of the vineyards has been replanted.
At Château Beau-Séjour Bécot a new wine cellar has been built, complete with new fermentation tanks and an aging room where barrels, foudres (large wooden vats), and clay amphorae are lined up side by side. As is the case in most of the Right Bank region, Merlot forms the core of the blend, with Cabernet Franc a close second.
Beau-Séjour Bécot is now considered one of the leading wineries in this appellation, and most of this transformation has taken place over the past decade.
From Gérard to Juliette
Gérard Bécot has been making wine at Château Beau-Séjour Bécot since 1967. Juliette Bécot took her first steps into the wine industry in 2001, working alongside her father. She worked by his side for 14 years, until 2015, when her father retired and handed over the vineyard to her.
The changes that followed were more than just minor adjustments. Juliette wanted Beau-Séjour Bécot to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Saint-Émilion's leading estates, so she completely overhauled the winemaking process to achieve this, with her husband, Julien Barthe, involved in the decision-making process from the very beginning.
Saint-Émilion reevaluates the classification of its vineyards approximately every 10 years, most recently in 2022. Beau-Séjour Bécot is one of the classified wines of this appellation.
The vineyard
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot cultivates a vineyard of approximately 22 hectares in Saint-Émilion. By Bordeaux's standards, this is not a particularly large plot, nor is it a quiet location.
A significant portion of this area has been replanted. Replanting is the most drastic process in a vineyard. It will take several years for the young vines to produce quality grapes which are good enough for the grand vin. However, it is an investment for the future.
The grape varieties
The variety composition of Château Beau-Séjour Bécot wines is based on the standard Right Bank set:
- Merlot: Always accounts for the largest proportion
- Cabernet Franc: The second most common variety, accounting for a significant proportion
- Cabernet Sauvignon: May be included in small quantities in some years, while in others it is not included at all
A look at the two recent blends illustrates just how fluid these proportions can be. The 2022 wine consisted of 76% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. In 2021, the composition was 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with no Cabernet Sauvignon at all. This varies depending on the vintage.
The winemaking
Juliette Bécot and Julien Barthe oversaw the construction of the new wine cellar at Château Beau-Séjour Bécot: a diverse combination of aging vessels, including new vinification tanks, barrels, foudres, and clay amphorae.
Different lots are aged in different containers; in particular, the amphorae add no oak aroma, which aligns well with the winery's philosophy of building freshness and delicate flavors rather than intense oak notes.
Two specialists have joined the team to support this approach. Consulting winemaker Thomas Duclos joined in 2017, and Technical Director Jean de Cournuaud in 2018.
A new cellar, a new team, and replanted vineyards: a new era for this chateau.
The wine
Château Beau-Séjour Bécot's Grand Vin is the wine named after the winery
The Petit Bécot is the second wine, renamed in 2012 from La Tournelle de Beau-Séjour Bécot.
