1975 Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, St Emilion, Bordeaux

This is most certainly a wine that transports you to the past, a beautifully preserved relic. It offers the perfect opportunity to taste a piece of history with family and friends. The 1975 vintage in Bordeaux started with a mild winter and somewhat of a complicated spring, with variable temperatures proving difficult to manage. Despite a wet start to the summer, the final few months were hot and dry, which allowed the grapes to ripen well – especially on the Right Bank, where the conditions were more favourable to Merlot.

Tasting note

This was one of the first vintages for Michel Bécot, owner of the property since 1969. The new generation – Juliette Bécot and her husband Julien Barthe – have taken the property to new heights. (Their 2022 vintage recently received a perfect 100-point score from James Suckling.)

The nose is wonderfully expressive, with notes of stewed plum, clove spice and aniseed providing a liquorice-like edge. The tannins are not overly present, but the palate still holds a good amount of acidity, framed by a pleasant core of deep red fruits.

Berry Bros. & Rudd