18 Jun 2020

SOLD OUT

"...exquisitely ripe tannins and electric freshness, finishing long and incredibly layered. WOW!  97-100 points."  Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

Saint-Julien heavyweight Ducru-Beaucaillou has released a potentially perfect wine, with 97-100 points from Lisa Perotti-Brown MW.  At £720 IB per six, this is 16.7% down on the release price in 2018.  A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, the excepionally fine and intense black fruit character which we are seeing across the left bank in 2019 is particularly noticeable here. 

Entertainingly, Neal Martin finds it "Pauillac-like", whilst Jane Anson notes the terroir as "slap-bang in St-Julien" (who are we to criticise other people's tasting notes...!).  What we think they and all the critics are drawing attention to is the wonderfully pure and intense expression of Cabernet in this vintage...already a feature of Ducru in any year.  Many merchants are selling out, we had a healthy allocation about an hour ago but are now down to our last few cases, so please let us know as soon as possible if you would like to order.

Ducru's second wine, La Croix de Beaucaillou, is not that far behind the grand vin according to Neal Martin, with 94-96 points and described by him as a "Deuxième Vin full of breeding".  Like a number of second wines of late, this challenges concepts of value (in a good way!), offered at just £338 per dozen.  

Offered En Primeur, landing Spring 2022.

 

Producer Profile

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien Grand Cru Classé

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a Deuxième Grands Cru Classé in St.-Julien.

One of the oldest estates in the Medoc, it dates back to the 13th century.  The second half of the name derives from the terroir, which is covered with large stones, 'beau-caillou', literally 'beautiful stones'.  Bertrand Ducru purchased the estate in 1795, adding his own name.  The property changed hands several times over the decades and was purchased in the 1940s by the Borie family (who also own Grand Puy Lacoste).

Bruno Borie took over in 2003 and has elevated the quality to the current high level, making this one of the 'super second' estates.  His personality is everywhere at the estate, including the distinctive pop art he installed in the cellars (tasting here feels a little incongruous, like visiting a rather louche nightclub).

The 75 hectares of vines are planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, averaging 35 years of age, at a density of10,000 vines per hectare. 

The second wine is La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou (recently re-named, previously known as La Croix de Beaucaillou).  Lalande-Borie, a separate estate, ceased to exist from the 2018 vintage and has become in effect a third wine, Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou.  Borie has managed production down from an average of 20,000 cases per annum in the 1980s to around half that today, just one aspect of his pursuit of quality.