In the glass
Aroma: cassis, dark cherry, violets, pencil shavings, cedar
Palate: black plum, graphite, tobacco, silky tannins, Gunzian gravel minerality
Archetype of refined Saint-Julien: cassis and dark cherry on a bed of Gunzian gravel minerality, with perfectly integrated silky tannins and an exceptionally lengthy finish.
What it pairs with
-
Rack of Pauillac lamb with herb crust
The wine's firm tannin structure and cedar notes harmonise with the lanolin richness of local lamb. -
Aged Comté or Ossau-Iraty
Crystalline mountain-cheese salt sharpens the wine's cassis fruit without overwhelming it. -
Roasted wood pigeon with truffle jus
Gamey, earthy register of pigeon mirrors the wine's tobacco and graphite notes. -
Entrecôte bordelaise
Classic Bordeaux pairing: the wine's dark fruit and firm grip cut the marbling of a rib-eye.
How to serve Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Allow 95 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and decant. Open 90 minutes before serving and pour into a decanter to aerate.
- Serve at 16-18°C. Cellar temperature (16-18°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a large Bordeaux-style glass. The bowl shape rewards the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Rack of Pauillac lamb with herb crust, Aged Comté or Ossau-Iraty, Roasted wood pigeon with truffle jus. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
The estate traces its modern identity to 1720 when it was established as a family property in the Médoc. The distinctive name references the Gunzian quartz-pebble soils ('beaux cailloux') along the Gironde. The Borie family acquired it in 1941 and elevated it to super-second status through rigorous selection.
- 1720 — Property established as a Médoc wine estate
- 1855 — Classified Deuxième Cru in the Bordeaux 1855 Classification
- 1941 — Borie family purchase and quality revival begins
- 1995 — Second wine La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou introduced
Facts
- Producer
- Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon (82%), Merlot (18%)
- Classification
- Saint-Julien AOC, Deuxième Cru Classé (1855)
- Oak
- 75-90% new French oak barrels, 18-20 months
- ABV
- 13.5%
- Production
- 120,000 bottles
- Price
- €200-400 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10-35 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1720
- Organic
- ECOCERT
Scores
- Wine Advocate 96 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
- Decanter 98 (2019 vintage, reviewed 2022)
Frequently asked about Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
What does Château Ducru-Beaucaillou taste like?
On the nose, cassis, dark cherry, violets, pencil shavings, cedar. On the palate, black plum, graphite, tobacco, silky tannins, Gunzian gravel minerality. Structurally full-bodied, firm tannins, high acidity with a long finish. Archetype of refined Saint-Julien: cassis and dark cherry on a bed of Gunzian gravel minerality, with perfectly integrated silky tannins and an exceptionally lengthy finish.
When should I drink Château Ducru-Beaucaillou?
Drink 10-35 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Château Ducru-Beaucaillou?
Rack of Pauillac lamb with herb crust is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Aged Comté or Ossau-Iraty and Roasted wood pigeon with truffle jus. The wine's firm tannin structure and cedar notes harmonise with the lanolin richness of local lamb.
What grapes are in Château Ducru-Beaucaillou?
The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon (82%), Merlot (18%). The wine is classified as Saint-Julien AOC, Deuxième Cru Classé (1855).