Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a St-Julien property that today is one of the leading Super Seconds. It is owned by the Borie family and is situated in the southeast of the St-Julien appellation. Ducru-Beaucaillou’s 50 hectares of vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 25%, Cabernet Franc 5% and Petit Verdot 5%) lie on deep, large-stone gravel beds enriched with alluvial soil deposits and with a high clay content. The wines are matured in oak barriques (50-60% new) for 18 months.
For many, Ducru-Beaucaillou is the quintessential St-Julien – deep-coloured, powerful, ripe, exquisitely well-balanced and perfectly harmonious. It requires a minimum of 10 years of bottle ageing before it should be approached and the best vintages will continue improving for many more years. Ducru-Beaucaillou is classified as a 2ème Cru Classé.
92 Points Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2001 is a medium-bodied, pure example displaying notes of red and black currants intermixed with minerals, spice box, and hints of cedar as well as toast. A late harvest (October 1-12) produced a surprisingly fruit-driven, pure, up-front 2001 Ducru. Xavier Borie thinks this blend of 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc is “better than the 1999, riper, denser, and fuller.” When tasted next to the 1999, the only difference is a firmer style of tannin in the 2001, whereas the 1999 is pure charm and elegance.