Château Beychevelle is ranked a quatrièmes cru, or 4th growth, in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. The estate got its name from the Gascogne phrase "Bêcha vêla" or "baisse voile" (lower the sails) which passing ships on the river would do out of respect for the Château's first owner, an Admiral. This nautical theme continued with the famous emblem of the Château: a ship with a griffon-shaped prow.

The wines of this iconic Saint-Julien estate are one of the most consistent in the commune. These are wines with great concentration and opulence, richly textured and tannic. Château Beychevelle crafts wines that will benefit from some time in the cellar. This is a wine that begs for rich, roasted meats.