Ducru Beaucaillou

Background

This highly regarded St. Julien is one of Bordeaux's true aristocrats with a history of wine making heading back to the mid-fourteenth century. Given a deuxiemes cru classification in 1855, the château is rightly held in similar regard to the neighbouring Leoville estates.

The vineyards at Ducru run almost down to the Gironde, lying between those of Beychevelle to the north and Latour, in the commune of Pauillac, to the south. All told there are 215 hectares, although not all are under vine. The vines are 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, with an average vine age of 40 years. The second wine of the estate is La Croix de Beaucaillou.

Standards seem to improve year on year but, in recent vintages, the 2000 and 2003 are particularly worthy of attention.

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