Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is 2ème Grand Cru Classé property in Saint Julien on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. The word “Beaucaillou” translates as "beautiful stones" because of the large pebbles which cover the soils of the estate. This property can trace its roots back to the C13th, making it one of Bordeaux’s most historic estates.
Bertrand Ducru purchased the estate in 1795. He added his name to the winery which quickly earned fame under the name of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. Successful Bordeaux wine merchant Francis Borie acquired the estate in 1941 (there is hope for us all!). Since 2003, Bruno Borie has been the proprietor and he is firmly in charge of everything that takes place here. Bruno is largely responsible for the recent stratospheric rise of this estate.
The 75 hectare Saint Julien vineyard is planted with a neatly proportioned 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, Bruno’s arrival was swiftly followed by a ruthless yet necessary reduction in yields, resulting in production dropping from 13,000 cases to 9,000 cases in his first vintage (2003) alone. The relentless quest to elevate what was already one of the region’s great wines to amongst the very best hasn’t ceased some 17 years later.
All manner of non-intrusive technology is employed at Ducru-Beaucaillou, from GPS and electrode growth-tracking to the introduction of laser-based sorting tables in the winery. All plots are, as is the case with most of the serious Bordeaux producers, vinified separately according to the fruit’s very individual needs. Aged almost entirely (90%+) in new oak, it is a testament to both the prowess of the Ducru team, aided by revered consultant Eric Boissenot, as well as the transcendent terroir that this wine remains so restrained, polished, pure and ultimately elegant.
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Bordeaux | 1 | 97 (JS) | HK$17,630.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)An incredible nose, with insane richness and notes of spices, leather, and sultanas. Full-bodied, with an amazing concentration of fruit and velvety tannins. A real blockbuster, lots of material here. Don't touch it for five years, pull the cork after 2015. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 97 (JS) | HK$12,230.00 | |||||
James Suckling (97)An incredible nose, with insane richness and notes of spices, leather, and sultanas. Full-bodied, with an amazing concentration of fruit and velvety tannins. A real blockbuster, lots of material here. Don't touch it for five years, pull the cork after 2015. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 93 (WA) | HK$1,470.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (93)One can’t say enough about the efforts Bruno Borie is pouring into this wonderful estate that I have often called the “Lafite Rothschild of St.-Julien.” An undeniable success, the 2004 Ducru boasts sweet aromas of creme de cassis, spring flowers, pain grille, licorice, and road tar. This pure, medium-bodied wine possesses moderately high tannin, superb concentration, good sweetness, and low acidity. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25 years. Also tasted: 2004 Croix de Beaucaillou (88; $25.00) |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 95+ (WA) | HK$13,675.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95+)One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 95+ (WA) | HK$3,725.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95+)One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035. |
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Bordeaux | 11 | 95+ (WA) | HK$7,850.00 | |||||
Wine Advocate (95+)One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035. |
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Bordeaux | 2 | 100 (JD) | HK$22,590.00 | |||||
Jeb Dunnuck (100)Starting a duo of magical vintages, the 2009 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of those wines that always seems to deliver the goods. A normal blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that hit 13.5% natural alcohol, it has a soaring bouquet of sweet blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, minty herbs, graphite, and assorted spicy nuances. It's full-bodied, broad, expansive, and flawlessly balanced, and has still present yet sweet, fine-grained tannins. It's in a much sexier, more showy style compared to the 2010, but I suspect it will nevertheless be just about as long-lived. This is pure perfection in wine. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 100 (JS) | HK$2,110.00 | |||||
James Suckling (100)The nose is phenomenal with perfect aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon with currant bush, blackberries and minerals. A pure expression of Cab. The palate is perfect with a full body, but has perfectly integrated tannins with a texture like the finest cashmere. It's strong but noble with perfect form and beauty. All in harmony. A fabulous wine that everyone who loves Bordeaux should have a bottle or case of. Better in 2020. |
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Bordeaux | 6 | 100 (JS) | HK$15,440.00 | |||||
James Suckling (100)The nose is phenomenal with perfect aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon with currant bush, blackberries and minerals. A pure expression of Cab. The palate is perfect with a full body, but has perfectly integrated tannins with a texture like the finest cashmere. It's strong but noble with perfect form and beauty. All in harmony. A fabulous wine that everyone who loves Bordeaux should have a bottle or case of. Better in 2020. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94-95 (JS) | HK$1,395.00 | |||||
James Suckling (94-95)Fabulous aromas of blackberries, plums, meat and rose petals. Full body, with special richness for the vintage with a sweetness not seen in many wines. Velvety tannins that are polished and beautiful. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. Little more Merlot than normal. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94+ (VN (AG)) | HK$14,855.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94+)A big wine for the year, the 2012 Ducru-Beaucaillou possesses striking depth and intensity from start to finish. Sweet tobacco, cedar, smoke and savory herb overtones add intrigue to this deep, fleshy Saint-Julien. I imagine the 2012 will age for several decades based on its fruit density. Whether the tannins ever become noble is another question. Still, it is impossible not to admire the wine's pure depth. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 94+ (VN (AG)) | HK$6,415.00 | |||||
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94+)A big wine for the year, the 2012 Ducru-Beaucaillou possesses striking depth and intensity from start to finish. Sweet tobacco, cedar, smoke and savory herb overtones add intrigue to this deep, fleshy Saint-Julien. I imagine the 2012 will age for several decades based on its fruit density. Whether the tannins ever become noble is another question. Still, it is impossible not to admire the wine's pure depth. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JS) | HK$12,705.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)Fabulous aromas of crushed berries such as blackberries and blackcurrants, not to mention spices. Wet earth and cedar, too. Complex. Full-bodied, yet agile and complete. A dense center palate. Ultra-round tannins. Everything in the right balance. Wonderful to taste but better to drink in 2022. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JS) | HK$12,615.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)Fabulous aromas of crushed berries such as blackberries and blackcurrants, not to mention spices. Wet earth and cedar, too. Complex. Full-bodied, yet agile and complete. A dense center palate. Ultra-round tannins. Everything in the right balance. Wonderful to taste but better to drink in 2022. |
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Bordeaux | 1 | 99 (JS) | HK$6,965.00 | |||||
James Suckling (99)Fabulous aromas of crushed berries such as blackberries and blackcurrants, not to mention spices. Wet earth and cedar, too. Complex. Full-bodied, yet agile and complete. A dense center palate. Ultra-round tannins. Everything in the right balance. Wonderful to taste but better to drink in 2022. |
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