I am again back at you with one of most fluid passions, wines. Of course not just any wine but the Médoc! And not just Bordeaux as if you have read my blog should know it is a genetic name covering a very large area north south, east of the city of Bordeaux! I found me much older pictures of my visiting days from Florida that need to be in my blog, The Médoc is in the Gironde department 33 of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. There are three parts to it: Bas-Médoc, Haut-Médoc and Landes, and two terroirs, the famous Médoc vineyard along the estuary, and Landes du Médoc towards the ocean, Therefore, here is my take on the wines of Saint Julien !!! Hope you enjoy the post as I.
The village of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle is located in the Gironde department, 33 in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of my belle France. 51 km from Bordeaux on the D2/D209 Road, According to Cassini’s map it shows that in the middle of the 18C, Saint-Julien who was named Saint-Julien de Regnac was a parish while Beychevelle was a hamlet. The sector was already planted many vines in the midst of which the dwellings of the winegrowers are represented. There were ,also stone windmills and castles. Other nice monument here is the Saint-Julien Church. The port of Saint-Julien is located 500 meters from the center of the town on the banks of the Dordogne , and the Port de Beychevelle is located 1 km from the village on the North channel.
The official town of Saint Julien-Beychevelle: https://www.saint-julien-beychevelle-site-officiel.fr/
Imagine the château at the beginning of the 17C… The first Duke of Épernon has just become its owner. The reputation of this great French admiral was such that as boats passed in front of his estate, they would lower their sails to show their allegiance. This deep mark of respect gave rise to the castle’s emblem, a ship with a griffon-shaped prow; its name in Gascon, Bêcha vêla, meaning “baisse voile” (“lower the sails”), later became Beychevelle. The men of Beychevelle have always ruled their land nobly and brought glory to the castle. Ever since its construction in 1565 by Bishop François of Foix-Candale, the reign of the Dukes of Epernon (of which the great admiral, Jean-Louis Nogaret de la Valette was the first), its rebuilding in 1757 by the Marquis de Brassier and subsequent enlargement by the Heine family, followed by the Achille-Fould family until 1986, the castle has never ceased to amaze visitors, both in terms of its vineyard and the exceptional setting. The Château Beychevelle also has a long-standing love for the arts. The creation of the Beychevelle Foundation dedicated to contemporary arts in 1990, the Equinoxe screenplay writing workshops from 1993 to 2003, and the partnership with the Mécénart association for 15 years, has inspired numerous artists to come and express their creativity at the castle. Today, Château Beychevelle belongs to Grands Millésimes de France, which is part of the Castel and Suntory groups,
The Château Beychevelle, ever since it was first produced, and down through the various vintages, has reflected the elegance and finesse of Saint Julien’s finest terroirs.Graceful and complex, with a tremendous aromatic richness, Château Beychevelle is made from the best plots in the vineyard and undergoes a rigorous selection process.It reveals its character after about ten years, and can be kept for several decades, depending on the vintage. 2023 61% Cabernet Sauvignon 35% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot On the palate, the attack is lively and fresh, revealing generous fruitiness in harmony with woody vanilla nuances. The elegance of Château Beychevelle is confirmed once again in 2023 with floral notes of violets. The texture is remarkably fine, caressing the palate with subtlety. Its racy character is expressed through assertive tannins that lengthen the finish. They bring power, density and tension to the whole.On the finish, a slight acidic note adds length to this harmonious balance. This is a very beautiful Château Beychevelle. You have the Amiral de Beychevelle 2nd wine ; the rigorous selection process undergone by the grand vin results in the creation of its younger brother, Amiral de Beychevelle. 2022 blend of Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, and Merlot 35% Despite being made from young vines, it benefits from the same growing techniques, meticulous sorting, and traditional barrel ageing.It has the same elegance and finesse as its older brother, but reveals its character more quickly, offering wine-enthusiasts the full vivacity of its youth. It can be kept for up to fifteen years, depending on the vintage. The Brulières de Beychevelle‘s Haut-Médoc 12 hectares of vines are 5 km from Beychevelle’s vineyard; being further from the Gironde estuary, they benefit from a cooler climate. Brulières’ blend consists of just two grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Vinified and aged in a separate winery, it is produced with the same level of care as Château Beychevelle and Amiral de Beychevelle. 2021 blend has 65% Merlot – 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is an harmonious, fresh and silky wine with a very elegant nose. Brulières de Beychevelle 2021 displays great freshness and a delicate nose with liquorice notes. Harmonious on the palate. Its tannins are delicate. A very fine Brulières de Beychevelle that will appeal to wine-lovers for the next three years.
The official Château Beychevelle :https://beychevelle.com/
The Château Gloria was the creation of Henri Martin, unique in its kind since this vineyard was set up part by part over several years by purchase from those mainly from great vintages classified in 1855. The origin of the terroirs, the care provided culture and vinification, explain its worldly recognized quality. The castle, falling under great work and an unprecedented approach in the history of Médoc, where he managed to negotiate plots from most of Saint-Julien to constitute the work of his life. Besides, the name “Gloria” contributed to the renown of the Henri Martin domains. And if the castle is not a classified vintage, the reason is very simple: during the ranking in 1855, it did not exist. This Saint-Julien bears his name in any case, a name for glory and success, but also of faith. That of a man of our time who knew how to “invent” a new vintage and bring it to the highest renown. In the end, will compose the vineyard of Château Gloria. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot, he also acquired Château Saint-Pierre, a Grand Cru classified from 1855, where he will give back and integrity to this exceptional Beychevelle vineyard. Finally, he acquired Château Bel Air, a bourgeois vintage from Haut-Médoc in the early 80s, which has since become Château Bel Air Gloria. Esprit de Gloria produces from the youngest vines of the property, it is a wine which reflects the typicities of the Saint-Julien appellation and which can be tasted earlier.
The official Domaine Henri Martin on Château Gloria: https://www.domaines-henri-martin.com/propriete/chateau-gloria/
The official wines of Bordeaux on the Médoc : https://www.bordeaux.com/us/Our-Terroir
The Bordeaux tourist office on the vineyards: https://www.bordeaux-tourism.co.uk/vineyards-wines
There are many properties visited over the years too numerous to mention, I purchase back in 2014 the Feret edition, Bordeaux and its Wines book , the essential historical analytical guide to the wines of the Médoc (Bordeaux) The official Feret Library: https://librairie.feret.com/
There you go folks, the wines of my belle France, and the very best from the Médoc that peninsula up from Bordeaux, sublime ! Again, hope you enjoy the post on the wines of Saint Julien !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 