Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2010

Special Price $293.00 Average US Price $360.00
Out of stock
SKU
1821-2010

Other Vintages We Offer:

• Domaine: Château Ducru Beaucaillou
• Appellation: Saint-Julien
• Classification: Second Growth, 2ème Grand Cru Classé
• Origin: Left Bank, Bordeaux, France

At Laguna Cellar, we try not to pick favorites.  But sometimes a producer is just so special that we can’t help but be a little partial to them.  This is very much the case for Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. This St-Julien Second Growth is simply superb.  Robert Parker Jr describes the wines from this “Super Second” in his tome on Bordeaux to be the perfect essence of “elegance, symmetry, balance, breed, class and distinction.” If a reclassification were ever to be in the cards, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou would surely have a shot at First Growth status.

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou has a long history that dates back to the 13th Century.  It received its namesake when Bertrand Ducru purchased the estate back in 1795.  The Château was loved by politicians and noblemen alike. Bertrand Ducru’s daughter married the speaker for the French Parliament, and the story goes that he switched the politician’s customary glass of water for a glass of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou.  

The property had a sterling reputation from being classified as a Second Growth in 1855 and was sold in 1866 to Lucie Caroline Dassier for one million francs.  Dassier was the wife of the famous negociant Nathaniel Johnston. Johnston performed numerous experiments at Château Ducru-Beaucaillou to protect the vines from various rots and diseases. He developed the first solution for mildew by creating what is now called, “Bordeaux Soup.” This concoction is a mixture of lime milk and copper sulfite used to cure the vines of mildew.  It is still used to protect against mildew today.  

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is unique in so many aspects.  One of which is that it receives part of its namesake from the terroir that is specific to this estate.  The estate’s signature Gunz gravel reflects the sun’s rays and offers the perfect drainage for the 50 hectares Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines. The name, “Beaux Cailloux,” loosely translates to, “beautiful stones.” The winemaking team firmly believes these special pebbles do all the work on the estate in transforming their precious grapes into astounding, mineral-driven wines with tremendous ageing potential.  Guests to the chateau are sometimes given a token of souvenir in the form of a velvet-boxed pebble from the land around the estate.

One cannot talk about Château Ducru-Beaucaillou without mentioning the current owner, Bruno Borie.  Borie is a legendary figure in the Bordeaux Wine Community, and brings his passion, knowledge, and perfectionism to Château Ducru-Beaucaillou.  Borie made many contributions to the Wine and Spirits world, including revitalizing the image of the popular brand Lillet by making sure it was featured in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. This likable and happy man made many major contributions to the estate, but the most notable one was ridding it of its TCA - cork taint - problem in the 1980s and 1990s.  Bruno made sure that the older vintages were recorked, and all the contaminated corks were destroyed.  

The wines from Château Ducru-Beaucaillou differ from some of the brawnier wines St-Julien has to offer.  They develop very slowly over time but are definitely worth the wait, as the results are a stunning harmony of fruit and power. 

Tasting Notes

"With loads of minerality, a terrific opaque purple color, and slightly more structure and tannin than either Poyferre or St.-Pierre (and that’s saying something), this is a blockbuster, fabulous Ducru Beaucaillou that should be at its best a good decade from now and last 40-50 years. The proprietor is not alone in thinking this is the finest Ducru Beaucaillou since the 1961. The classic wet rock, creme de cassis, subtle oak and gravelly stoniness of the vineyard come through in this spectacular, full-bodied, gorgeously pure and intense effort. This is wine for the ages that should be forgotten for at least a decade. Proprietor Bruno Borie thinks this wine is as superb as their 2009. Slightly more structured and less flamboyant than its older sibling, it is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot from the very best parcels of the vineyard. This wine tips the scales at 14% natural alcohol but has a normal pH of 3.6, which is one of the characteristics of this vintage (high alcohol, normal pH), which thus accounts for the freshness and precision found in most 2010s." - Robert Parker Jr., The Wine Advocate (2/27/2013, Issue 205),  Rating: 98+, Drink from: 2023-2053


More Information
LWIN 1009479
Stock Status Out of Stock
Appellation Saint-Julien
Vintage 2010
Brand Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Shipping Weight 3.000000
We found other products you might like!

 

Saint-Julien is a prestigious wine appellation located in the Medoc region on the Left Bank along the Gironde estuary at the heart of Bordeaux. Known for its exceptional red wines, Saint-Julien benefits from a strategic geographical position between Pauillac and Margaux giving it a unique terroir. 

The viticultural history of Saint-Julien dates back several centuries, with deep roots in the winemaking traditions of Bordeaux. The appellation's soil is primarily composed of gravel, a mix of pebbles, sand, and clay that offers excellent drainage and contributes to the production of high-quality wines. 

The wines of Saint-Julien are mainly made from the traditional Bordeaux grape varieties such as Saint-Estèphe appellation. The principal grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Thanks to these grape varieties and ancestral winemaking expertise, Saint-Julien wines are distinguished by their finesse, aromatic complexity and remarkable aging potential. Saint-Julien wines are often described as harmonious and elegant, with aromas of black fruits, cedar, and mineral notes. Their balanced tannic structure and silky texture make them highly appreciated by amateurs of fine wines. 

Some of Saint-Julien wines are Third Growths and five of these Saint-Julien are highly rated Second Growths: Château Léoville Poyferré, Château Léoville Las Cases, Château Léoville Barton, Château Gruaud Larose and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. Other famous estates include Château Lagrange, Château Beychevelle, Château Langoa Barton, Château Clos du Marquis, Château Gloria, Château Talbot, Château Saint-Pierre, Château Branaire Ducru.

© 2024 Laguna Cellar. All rights reserved. (888) 390-WINE | Drink Responsibly | End Drunk Driving