Opinions of Ch. Beau Sejour Becot (1998)

Wine Doctor doesn't seem real impressed with earlier vintages. Has anyone had this wine in this year? General opinions about the producer?

Wine Doctor doesn't seem real impressed with earlier vintages. Has anyone had this wine in this year? General opinions about the producer?

Sorry, not this year. I think in the late 90's they made some "improvements" like hiring Rolland. If you like wines from the Appellation Rolland Controlée, go for it! In all seriousness, I was quite impressed with the '01 though it did have a bit a Rollandish outlook to it. Before Rolland came along, they are reputed to be thin and weedy wines and quite frankly bad. Not tasted the older ones either. And since I can't remember what year Rolland came in, this post is really useless, isn't it?

-O-

[Jenise]

No help here: never had one myself Brian, any vintage. I own a pair of 01's, but it will be awhile before I try one.

I tasted this wine maybe five years ago in a tasting of Bordeaux 1998. Among other St. Emilions it stood out with its finesse and intense floral Bouquet hinting at margaux. It was one of my favourites.

I tasted this wine maybe five years ago in a tasting of Bordeaux 1998. Among other St. Emilions it stood out with its finesse and intense floral Bouquet hinting at margaux. It was one of my favourites.

Cool. Thanks!

I bought it at a wine shop in Kensington, CA whose proprietor I trust. He steered me to my first Bordeaux-another 1998 Saint Emilion (Ch. Vieux Fortin) which I really, really enjoyed. (he steered me away from an "overpriced" Napa Cab to a Pauillac which he says is much better. I can't wait to try this one, a 2000 Ch. Pichon Baron, in a few years. The advice on this board to find a wine shop proprietor who knows his stuff is great advice!

I can't find notes, but have a couple 1998 Beausejour Becot , and know I bought because I liked at release. The '00 P Baron is a great wine, but you're probably better off planning on 10 years than a few! Big boy.

Had this wine with dinner with friends tonight. First, it was very young. Definitely some tannins, but s I LIKE tannins, this was not too big of a problem for me. And, as the wine opened up in the glass, the tannins seemed to nicely resolve themselves pretty handily.

Decanted for a shorter period than it deserved. Served at room temperature (relatively cool, as Northern California does have a winter/late fall, and I hate heating my house, so)

Nice purple color. Heady, dark fruit on the nose with some nice tobacco??? notes. A little bit of heat on the nose as well, but that may be a misperception on my part (13% abv). The nose doesn't seem to be shut down at all, on this bottle.

Palatte-Young, with chewy tannins a plenty, but see above. Lovely dark fruit with nice tobacco and leather notes. And, those lovely French savory notes, that "haerbiness": or unami, that I really love in my limited experience with Bordeaux and Burgundy!!!!

Overall, this was not a thin or weak wine to my limited palette experience at all. I found it rich and interesting-and this wine definitely improved as it swirled in our glasses. I think it was somewhat more interesting, more multilayered and complex, than the Chateau Vieux Fortin (which was, admittedley, quite a bit cheaper).

A very nice wine that we all enjoyed. I actually found this review tonight, which is pretty good. http://www.epinions.com/content_4094140548

(Although-the wine of the evening was a beautifully balanced, almost perfect, rich, opalescent black Napa cab from Joe Cafaro-the 1999 Cafaro Riserva. THAT is an even more amazing wine!)