Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot 2019

Cellar for up to 25 years. Decant for 2 hours or more before serving. This noble Saint-Emilion estate has a truly ancient history with vines first cultivated here by the Romans. In 1969 the property was purchased by local winemaker Michel Becot and has been passed down through his sons to his granddaughter Juliette. The chateau was actually stripped of its Premier Cru Classe status in 1986 after they merged their family vineyards without permission. With the help of their friend and winemaking consultant Michel Rolland they were able to regain the classification in 1996. The familys 17 hectares of vines are set on the Saint-Emilion limestone plateau with superb chalky soils studded with fossilized starfish. Their wines typically have 70-80% Merlot along with 25-15% Cabernet Franc and a splash of Cabernet Sauvignon from 40 year old vines. Maturation is in 85% new and 15% used French oak barrels for 18-20 months. Chateau Beau-Sejour Becot offers a thoroughly modern take on Saint-Emilion with opulent layers of luscious fruit and powerful oak. Intense cassis, blackberry and dark plum lead on the nose, complemented by hints of cigar smoke and toasted cedar. Firm tannins and a full body make this a great wine to cellar for a decade or more or to enjoy now alongside hearty red meat dishes.