Château Beychevelle 2001

Characteristics and Tasting Notes for Château Beychevelle 2001

Tasting Notes

Appearance
The wine displays a deep, intense colour.

Nose
The bouquet is exuberant, revealing well-defined aromas of red and black fruits, complemented by notes of cedar, tobacco, leather and a hint of mint.

Palate
The palate offers a powerful tannic structure. It shows great tension, balance and spice, extending into an excellent long finish.

Food and Wine Pairings
This wine is an ideal match for roasted or grilled red meats, game, as well as umami-rich dishes such as sautéed mushrooms and mature cheeses.

Serving and Cellaring
It is recommended to decant Château Beychevelle 2001 for thirty to sixty minutes and to serve it at a temperature between 16 and 18°C. This wine is built for cellaring and can be enjoyed until around 2026.

The Elegance of a Great Saint-Julien Wine

The Estate
Built in 1565, Château Beychevelle is a renowned estate in the Bordeaux region. Nicknamed the "Versailles of the Médoc", this historic property is famous for its "baisse-voile" legend, a true emblem of the brand. Classified as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Grand Cru) in 1855, the estate spans a production area of 74 hectares. Today, this jewel is jointly owned by the Castel and Suntory groups, brought together under the entity Grands Millésimes de France. Led by Philippe Blanc, the estate combines tradition with cutting-edge environmental practices to bring out the best of its exceptional terroir.

The Vineyard
Located on the left bank of the Gironde, at the heart of the Saint-Julien appellation, the terroir rests on two vast plateaus of deep Garonne gravel dating back to the Pleistocene era. These lean soils, composed of pebbles, gravel and sand, ensure excellent drainage and encourage deep root growth in the vines, naturally regulating water supply. Yield stands at 57 hl/ha.

The Vintage
The growing season began after a very mild, wet winter, followed by a particularly rainy April. Flowering took place quickly and evenly under warm, dry conditions, on 23 May for the Merlot and 29 May for the Cabernet Sauvignon. After a cool, rainy July, véraison became widespread in the first days of August. Excellent weather conditions before and during the harvest, which took place from 1 to 14 October 2001, accompanied the end of the season.

Winemaking and Ageing
Château Beychevelle 2001 is crafted using traditional methods, with fermentation taking place in tanks. The wine is then carefully aged in oak barrels, including a significant proportion of new wood, to refine its structure.

Grape Varieties
54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot