• Colour

  Red

• Vintage

  1985

• Producer

  Chateau Ducru Beauca

• Country

  FRANCE

• Region

  BORDEAUX

• Sub Region

  ST JULIEN

• Product code

  A85DUCBB12U

• Availability

  1 case

• Grape Variety

  Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot

Tasting Notes

Producer Information

Back in the 17th Century Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou and Chateau Branaire Ducru were part of Chateau Beychevelle. The estate was then partly sold off and the name Ducru Beaucaillou came into existence with the ownership of Bertrand Ducru in 1795. 'Beaucaillou' is translated as 'beautiful pebble'. High quality demanded high prices, and the estate was consequently ranked Deuxieme Cru Classe (Second Growth Bordeaux). The immensely grand chateau was constructed around the same time in the 1850s and the wine ranks alongside Chateaux Leoville Barton, Leoville Las Cases, Leoville Poyferre and Gruaud Larose in the prestigious group of second growths in the left bank commune of St Julien.

The property is a notable landmark; with the vineyards running almost all the way down to the river Gironde. There is a huge 215 hectares in total, a second wine called La Croix de Beaucaillou was introduced in 1995. The wine known as Lalande Borie is also made from these vineyards but as a different wine entirely. The vines are 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, with an average vine age of 40 years. Many consider Ducru Beaucaillou to be their 'desert island claret' owing to its elegance and quality, plus in the context of inferior vintages it is often Ducru Beaucaillou that comes out on top against the other St Julien Second Growths.