Benjamin de Beauregard Pomerol

Tasting rich and refined Right Bank Bordeaux is a wonderful pleasure. But this pleasure often comes at a price. Often at a rather extreme price. That’s why it’s amazing to find this tiny gem of a winery, buried in the heart of the Right Bank – Pomerol – surrounded by the likes of Cheval Blanc, Le Pin, and Petrus but at a crazy affordable price point. In a land of four-digit-priced bottles, here’s a, yes, unheard of winery, but offering unheard of value: Chateau Beauregard’s Benjamin de Beauregard. .

Beauregard dates back to the 11th century and the Order of the Knights of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem, from which Beauregard’s emblematic Knights Templar cross originates. Active in the Pomerol region as a crossroads, check point, hospital and manor, the Knights farmed these lands and provide safe loggings for travelers. It was on this site, five centuries later, that the Beauregard family built the first house on the estate and planted vines. From there, sadly, the estate goes into decline until its re-blossoming in 2014, when it was purchased by the Moulin and Cathiard families. Looking forward they introduce organic and sustainable vinticulure, completely modernized the winery and winemaking, and brought Beauregard back to critical acclaim. And what a wine this is:

I simply love Pomerol. This fully concentrated beauty opens with powerful aromatics of black raspberry, black plum, and currants in waves. Adding complexity are Pomerol’s signature suggestions of tobacco leaf, cloves, crushed rocks and violets. It is only in Pomerol where such wines take on this much complexity and richness. The finish is utterly heaven-sent, with a plush, velvety mouthfeel that continues for minutes.

True, this is a 2019 vintage and it is a “second wine”, hence the Benjamin part (no, it’s not named after me) but this is all to our advantage. The Chateau is at pains to state that it is grown in the exact same manner, except that these vines are on sandier soils, making the wine more plush. Further, in the winery it is not a selection “down”, rather, the wine from these soils requires less new oak aging, keeping its freshness. As the winery notes, it drinks best from 3 (now) to 10 years old. And having shared many bottles at our recent tasting, I quite agree! 

Why in this land of four-digit-priced bottles is Benjamin Beauregard the price it is? I honestly dunno. When I heard the price, I was so astounded I almost had to spit the wine out— it represents such a value. But then, after safely getting this elixir into my tummy, I bought all that I could. I think you should, too.