The November 2026 Auction: Part 1
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1 / 2Lot 70
Estimate: $110
Nicked, lightly bin soiled labels.
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Reviews
96AG
"The 2018 Beau-Séjour Bécot has really closed down since I tasted it en primeur. Inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and blood orange gradually open in the glass, all framed by veins of chalky minerality. The 2018 is a fabulous wine in the making, but readers have to be patient. Time in a decanter or simply in the glass helps to bring out the wine's considerable depth."
Region
Red
Country
Score
"The 2018 Beau-Séjour Bécot has really closed down since I tasted it en primeur. Inky red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint and blood orange gradually open in the glass, all framed by veins of chalky minerality. The 2018 is a fabulous wine in the making, but readers have to be patient. Time in a decanter or simply in the glass helps to bring out the wine's considerable depth."
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The world's most influential fine-wine producer and the benchmark for Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and the Rhone. Its appellation (AOC) system codifies geography, grape and method, and its wines set the global standard for age-worthiness and terroir expression.
The world's largest fine-wine region, built around blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Divided by the Gironde estuary into the structured Left Bank and the plush, Merlot-led Right Bank, it is the historic benchmark for age-worthy claret and sweet Sauternes.
2018 in Bordeaux paired a wet, mildew-plagued spring with a hot, dry summer drought; the wines are rich, powerful and opulent, with high alcohol, ripe tannins and excellent long-term aging potential.
Cabernet Franc is an aromatic red grape prized for its perfume, freshness and savory character. Raspberry and violet are familiar notes, often joined by red fruit, herbs and a leafy edge. Its wines can be supple and fragrant or more firmly structured, with the balance of fruit, tannin and herbal complexity shaped by ripeness, vineyard site and winemaking. In France's Loire Valley, Cabernet Franc often takes center stage in wines from Chinon, Bourgueil, Saint-Nicolas-de-Bourgueil and Saumur-Champigny. These expressions highlight the grape's ability to reflect differences between vineyards while retaining a distinctive sense of freshness. In Bordeaux, particularly Saint-Émilion, it is an important partner to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing aromatic lift, finesse and structure. Cabernet Franc generally ripens before Cabernet Sauvignon and produces wines ranging from lively, fruit-focused bottlings to concentrated examples capable of developing additional complexity with age. Its appeal lies in the interplay of fruit, floral perfume and savory detail, whether bottled on its own or used to bring nuance to a blend.
Merlot is a red grape valued for generous fruit, a rounded palate and a supple, often velvety texture. Plum and cherry are characteristic flavors, sometimes accompanied by violet or fig, with chocolate, coffee and savory notes developing in some wines as they mature. Its styles range from bright, approachable reds to deeply concentrated wines with substantial structure. Bordeaux is Merlot's historic home, and the grape is particularly important on the Right Bank in Saint-Émilion, Pomerol and Fronsac. There it can lead a blend, frequently partnered with Cabernet Franc. Across Bordeaux, Merlot also complements Cabernet Sauvignon, contributing fruit and roundness alongside the latter's firmer tannic framework. Merlot generally ripens earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon, helping growers achieve ripe fruit in a range of conditions. Vineyard site, harvest timing and cellar choices determine the final balance of richness, freshness and tannin. Many bottlings offer pleasure in their youth, while fine, well-balanced examples can develop layered aromas and greater complexity through extended aging.