# Château Beau-Séjour Bécot Grand Cru Classé (2021)

- **Producer:** Château Beau-Séjour Bécot
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon
- **Region:** Bordeaux, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €53
- **Contains sulphites:** No
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** red cherry, strawberry, raspberry, black cherry, red plum, black plum, violet, vanilla, cedar, cloves, leather, forest floor, earth

## About this wine

Château Beau-Séjour Bécot Grand Cru Classé 2021 is a red wine from the Saint-Émilion appellation in Bordeaux, France. The estate, owned by the Bécot family since 1969, is classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé B. The wine is a blend primarily of Merlot, with Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Its distinctive character is shaped by the clay-limestone soils of the Saint-Émilion plateau, contributing to its minerality and purity. The 2021 vintage is noted for its purity and freshness.

## Interesting facts

- Vineyards average 34 years old, with some parcels over 70.
- Harvest lasted nearly a month, waiting for perfect ripeness.
- Uses a mix of amphorae and French oak for aging.
- Premier Grand Cru Classé B status signifies high quality.

## Food pairing

The wine's full body and fine tannins are well-suited to complement the protein and fat in red meats and game. Its vibrant freshness can cut through richer sauces, while its subtle earthy notes can echo the flavors of mushrooms and herbs.

## Wine making process

The winemaking process at Château Beau-Séjour Bécot involves vinification by plot with thermo-regulated vatting. Traditional alcoholic fermentation occurs in inverted truncated cone vats, followed by gentle extraction and maceration. A portion of grapes are whole berry fermented, and malolactic fermentation takes place in tanks. The wine is aged for 16 months, utilizing a combination of French oak barrels (55% new) and amphorae/tuns (25%). Harvests are hand-picked and manually sorted, with careful attention paid to plot-specific ripeness.