France · Bordeaux

Chateau Beychevelle

Chateau Beychevelle, the grand Saint-Julien Fourth Growth with one of the Medoc's most recognizable chateaux, has long been regarded as performing above its classification. Today owned jointly by Castel Freres and Suntory, Beychevelle farms approximately 90 hectares of classic Saint-Julien gravel south of the village, producing a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend with substantial Merlot. The wine's hallmark is refinement and early accessibility. At auction, 1,082 lots average $164 per bottle with prices reaching $2,868, and the 1982 vintage remains the top auction year—reflecting the property's strong performance in Bordeaux's most celebrated decade. The second wine Amiral de Beychevelle and Les Brulieres provide tiered access. Top vintages for auction purposes include 1982, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2005, 2009, and 2010. Beychevelle rarely achieves the critical ceiling of its Second Growth neighbors but offers consistent quality at a price point that makes it one of the most actively traded Fourth Growths on the secondary market.