2020 Wine Advocate 95+: A terrific performance for an estate on a continuing upward trajectory, the 2020 Beau-Séjour Bécot unwinds in the glass with a deep bouquet of cherries and blackberries mingled with violets and spices. Medium to full-bodied, pure and layered, it's deep and concentrated, with a vibrant core of fruit, polished tannins and a long, sapid finish. The 2020 is a blend of 85% Merlot, 13% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon, some two-thirds of which was matured in new oak, with the balance in tanks, amphorae and foudres. Vinous 97: The 2020 Beau-Sejour Becot is a dense, powerful wine. A rush of black cherry, plum, chocolate, new leather, licorice, spice and sweet oak builds as this towering, vertically explosive Saint-Emilion opens in the glass. This is an especially broad, expansive Saint-Emilion, much of that attributable to the clay in these soils. The 2020 is magnificent in its intensity and overall volume. Superb. 2021 James Suckling 93-94: Lots of blue fruit with violets and a hint of boysenberry. Medium body, integrated and fine tannins and a cool, linear finish. Solid length and brightness. Vinous 96: The 2021 Beau-Séjour Bécot is powerful, dense and quite savory, with the Franc very much in evidence. Dark red cherry, blood orange, spice, mint, rose petal, incense and scorched earth give this deep, layered Saint-Émilion tons of flavor complexity. This is such a distinctive and compelling wine. Decanter 92: Bramble fruit aromas and lovely subtle perfume to the red summer berries. Smooth and supple palate but the wine has such a vibrancy to it. It has a bit of a wild energy with salty earth, sour cherry, ripe strawberry and a touch of crushed stone and tobacco. You get the minerality and a real display of nuance and detail on the palate. This has character: it’s smooth but with satin-textured tannins giving the support and structure in the mouth with a slow build of flavour to a lifted, fresh finish. An excellent and impressive effort from Côtes de Castillon in 2021. No chapitalisation. 7% press wine. 3.5pH. 2022 James Suckling 94: Opulent and rich, with luxurious, ripe blackberry and blackcurrant character. It's full-bodied and very layered, with soft, silky tannins and a long, flavorful finish. Creamy texture at the end. 51% merlot, 43% cabernet sauvignon and 6% petit verdot. This is delicious now, but will age nicely. Best after 2027. Vinous 100: The 2022 Beau-Séjour Bécot is a total stunner. What a wine! The 2022 was magnificent en primeur, and it is all that from bottle. The aromatics alone are mesmerizing. Crushed rose petal, mint, blood orange, new leather and cedar meld into a core of pliant red-toned fruit. More than anything else, I am so impressed with the wine's precision and finesse. I have never tasted a Beau-Séjour Bécot like this. Decanter 96: Floral notes on the nose. Tangy and sharp, lively and bright straight away, sweet and sour, so energetic and lively with a mineral grip from the fine, firm, grippy tannins. Lovely precision and almost delicate presentation of fruit. You really feel the mineral, salty, tangy aspect of the fruit, nothing feels overworked, all in balance, really quite thrilling and electric. Great purity and focus. Scintillating yet still with a lovely volume and roundness accented by tobacco, clove, liquorice and cinnamon touches. Really well worked and fresh - this feels very modern with such control to the fruit, tannins, acidity giving overall depth and complexity. Elegant but confident, taking the best density from clay density and freshness from limestone. A very singular charm with this wine. 3.55pH. 10% press wine.
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