Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2019

$242.95
Out of stock
SKU
1821-2019

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

"This year the blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. The alcohol weighed in at 14.2%, while the pH is 3.8 and the IPT is 88. It will mature for 18 months in French oak barrels, 100% new. Opaque purple-black in color, the 2019 Ducru-Beaucaillou explodes from the glass with bombastic notes of crème de cassis, blueberry pie and plum preserves plus hints of candied violets, dark chocolate, licorice, wild fungi, crushed rocks and tilled soil with a touch of mossy bark. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is a tightly wound coil poised to spring out with layer upon layer of minerals, rich black fruits and floral notes, framed by very firm, exquisitely ripe tannins and electric freshness, finishing long and incredibly layered. WOW!" - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (6/17/2020, Bordeaux 2019 Issue), Rating: 97-100


More Information
LWIN 1009479
Stock Status In Stock
Appellation Saint-Julien
Vintage 2019
Brand Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Shipping Weight 3.000000
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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.

Footnotes on Futures, Pre-Arrivals, and potential US Tariffs: 

1. As of June 15, 2021, the US and the EU agreed to suspend tariffs resulting from the Boeing-Airbus aircraft trade disputes. Accordingly, such import taxes are now suspended for the next five years.

2. Futures are expected to be available for delivery two years after the sales (e.g., the 2022 vintage, sold in 2023, will be delivered in 2025 mostly, or 2026 if the producer ages the wine longer).

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