2005 Saint-Julien, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
About Producer
The heart of Ducru-Beaucaillou’s vineyard is 55ha on stony and gravelly soils on limestone subsoil around the château and close to the river. One of the striking features here is the wide range of multicoloured and diversified quartz and flint pebbles found in its soils, hence its name Beaucaillou (‘beautiful pebble’ in French). Created in 1720, this estate was bought in 1797 by Bertrand Ducru who added his name to the property. The modern history of Ducru-Beaucaillou started in 1942 when it was acquired by Francis Borie, owner of neighbouring Haut-Batailley in Pauillac. In 1953, his son Jean-Eugène took over and subsequently propelled the château into the Médoc elite. Since 2003, the property is managed by Bruno Borie, Jean-Eugène’s son, who has firmly put his estate among the top flight in Bordeaux.
Varietals
Blend of 67% cabernet sauvignon and 33% merlot
About Appellation
Sandwiched between Margaux and Pauillac, Saint-Julien AOC is home to 11 grands crus classés in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. The 910ha vineyards sit on a top layer of gravel on clay and limestone soil covered with large white stones ('galets'). While there are traces of vines planted here since the 8th century, extensive viticulture only started off in the 17th century when members of the local nobility and bourgeoisie created large vineyards. Like most of the Médoc, cabernet sauvignon reigns supreme, followed by merlot which plays an invariably supporting role. There are also lesser plantings of cabernet franc and petit verdot. The best estates have vines planted on gentle slopes along the Gironde estuary where terroir and micro-climate are the finest.
Tasting Notes
Captivating nose of dark berry fruits, plum, tobacco, baking spices, leather and floral scents, rich mouthfeel with silky texture, impressive concentration and remarkable precision, multilayered flavours of blackberry, fig preserve, cherry liqueur, dark chocolate and star anise liberally laced with hints of black tea and forest floor, well judged acidity and resolved tannins carrying through a long, seductive finish. Starting to shed its youthful restraint, this is a sensational wine with undeniable class, enthralling complexity and beguiling freshness. I particularly love the fascinating balance between delicate elegance and composed power that bodes well for future grandeur. Indeed it's a wine destined for a very long life that I'm thrilled to revisit in the coming years. (04/2022)