Château Beychevelle 2025

Château Beychevelle sits in the AOC Saint-Julien on the Left Bank of Bordeaux, an estate with a name drawn from the ships that once lowered their sails as they passed the manor. Its vineyards run on deep gravel over clay and sand close to the Gironde, whose presence moderates temperature and stretches the ripening season. The gravel drains freely and warms quickly, ripening both Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, while a wide diurnal range holds acidity and aroma. The blend balances Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The 2025 ages 18 months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen transfer through the wood polishes the tannins and adds cedar and spice that support the fruit. The wine is deep red, with a nose of dark forest fruit, blackberry and blueberry over tobacco, dried earth and a touch of pepper. The palate is full bodied and complex, with smooth, savoury tannins and a long finish reflecting the gravel terroir. Serve at 16 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb, beef and game.