This Domaine, rich in history and expertise, embodies both Bordeaux's winemaking tradition and a modern approach to viticulture, marked by innovation and excellence.
Since its acquisition in 2001 by Juliette Bécot, heir to the famous Bécot family, owners of the prestigious Château Beau-Séjour Bécot, Grand Cru Classé de Saint-Émilion, Château Joanin Bécot has undertaken an ambitious transformation. Juliette Bécot, with the experience and passion inherited from her family, turned Domaine into a jewel of the appellation, combining precision in vineyard management with a forward-looking vision. His ambition was to raise the profile of the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation, often overshadowed by its more famous neighbors, by creating wines on a par with Bordeaux's greatest appellations.
The vineyard covers around 12.6 hectares, planted mainly with Merlot (75%) and Cabernet Franc (25%). The terroir of Château Joanin Bécot is characterized by clay-limestone soils similar to those of Saint-Émilion, offering optimal conditions for the cultivation of these grape varieties. This particular terroir gives the wines a fine, elegant structure, while preserving their freshness. The quality of the grapes is paramount, and all viticultural work is carried out with meticulous attention to detail, from yield management to manual harvesting, ensuring rigorous selection of the best bunches.
The style of wines produced at Château Joanin Bécot is characterized by a harmonious combination of power and finesse. Merlot, the majority grape variety, brings roundness, fruitiness and opulence, while Cabernet Franc adds structure and complexity, with floral and spicy aromas that enhance the whole. On the palate, the wines offer a velvety texture, with ripe, mellow tannins, supported by well-balanced acidity, guaranteeing interesting ageing potential.
Ageing is also a key part of the Domaine philosophy. The majority is aged in French oak barrels, with the proportion of new barrels varying from vintage to vintage. This choice brings subtle woody notes without ever dominating the fruit, and contributes to the aromatic complexity of the wine, while respecting the expression of the terroir.
The Château Joanin Bécot embodies excellence and passion for viticulture, with a desire to enhance the value of a terroir that is still too often overlooked. Careful management of the vineyard, combined with meticulous work in the cellar, produces elegant, high-quality wines that are representative of their terroir. This Domaine deserves special attention in the universe of great Bordeaux wines, both for its intrinsic qualities and for the vision it proposes for the future of the Castillon Côtes de Bordeaux appellation.
