Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou
Saint Julien Grand Cru Classè 2017
Other years:
2006| Denomination | AOC Saint-Julien |
|---|---|
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Area | Bordeaux (France) |
| Grape varieties | 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot |
| Aging | 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels, of certified origin and naturally dried outdoors |
| Other years | 2006 |
- Origin and classification: Saint-Julien Bordeaux designation, Second Growth Grand Cru Classé
- Vintage and grapes: 2017; 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot
- Ageing: 18 months in new French oak, traditional fining
- Aromatic profile: notes of cocoa, chocolate, toast, rose and a hint of graphite
- Taste and pairings: full-bodied and savoury structure, persistent finish; suitable for meats and cheeses
Description
What kind of wine it is
The Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien Grand Vin is a still red wine that precisely expresses the character of its terroir. This Grand Cru Classé, born from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, presents itself in the glass with a deep and bright colour. The aromatic profile is compact, characterised by elegant hints of cocoa and chocolate, fused with toasted notes, floral nuances of rose and light touches of graphite. On the palate, it is juicy and full-bodied, supported by marked freshness and rounded tannins. The sip offers delicate memories of country bread, leading to a long and savoury finish of exceptional persistence.
Where it comes from
This refined red comes to life in the heart of Saint-Julien, within the renowned Bordeaux region. The estate, whose history dates back to 1720, creates wines capable of combining vigour and structural finesse, while respecting the authenticity of the French wine landscape. The meticulous work in the vineyards allows for grapes of perfect phenolic ripeness. Thanks to its rich and enveloping body, this majestic Bordeaux pairs magnificently at the table with intense dishes, particularly enhancing fine cuts of red meat, flavourful game and mature cheeses.
How it is produced
The process begins with rigorous selection steps for each individual variety. Maturation takes place over eighteen months in new French oak barrels, seasoned outdoors, ensuring the wine integrates the wood perfectly. During ageing, regular topping up and continuous racking are carried out to clarify the wine naturally. The process concludes with a traditional egg white fining directly in the barrel. This meticulous attention in the cellar results in a red wine of academic construction, destined for extraordinary evolution over time.
History and Curiosities
Founded in 1720, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a renowned Grand Cru Classé from Saint-Julien that combines the charm of history with ongoing sustainable innovation. The 2017 vintage, balanced by providential September rains after scorching months and spring frosts, allowed for the harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes with perfect phenolic ripeness. This meticulous dedication results in an exceptional wine, preserved in elegant laser-engraved bottles with a holographic label, guaranteeing complete authenticity and undisputed prestige.
Awards
-
2017
97/100
James Suckling is an influential American wine critic and journalist who worked at Wine Spectator for 30 years. He left the magazine in 2010 to start his own website and guidebook (JamesSuckling.com). He specialises in Italian and Bordeaux wines.
Tasting notes
Perfume
Color
Taste
Serve at:
16 - 18 °C
Longevity:
10 - 15 years
Decanting time:
1 hour
- Start up year: 1720
His considerable efforts began to bear fruit in the second half of the 1950s when Ducru-Beaucaillou’s reputation rose to the highest level in Bordeaux, and it has never been refuted since then. His superb vintages, combined with his modesty and tongue-in-cheek humour, made him one of the most endearing personalities of the Médoc.
Some sixty years on, the son of Monique and Jean Eugène, Bruno-Eugène, is continuing his father’s work and has redefined the selection policy. A tireless perfectionist, with a remarkable capacity for hard work, he has just launched an ambitious ten-year plan for the "sustainable reconstruction" of the vineyards and cellars.
Passionate about contemporary art and design, his sensitivity always on instinct, Bruno-Eugène has also entrusted the restoration of the château to another princess, Sarah Poniatowska – a descendant of the much-loved monarch, Stanislas II of Poland. Ducru-Beaucaillou is now at the top of its game, with a series of superb vintages perfectly illustrating the grand silky style of Saint-Julien, as proven by the superlative scores given to the 2019 vintage. Read more
| Name | Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou Saint Julien Grand Cru Classe 2017 |
|---|---|
| Type | Red still |
| Denomination | Saint-Julien AOC |
| Vintage | 2017 |
| Size | 0,75 l |
| Alcohol content | 13.5% by volume |
| Grape varieties | 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Vendor | Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou |
| Story | History and Curiosities Founded in 1720, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a renowned Grand Cru Classé from Saint-Julien that combines the charm of history with ongoing sustainable innovation. The 2017 vintage, balanced by providential September rains after scorching months and spring frosts, allowed for the harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes with perfect phenolic ripeness. This meticulous dedication results in an exceptional wine, preserved in elegant laser-engraved bottles with a holographic label, guaranteeing complete authenticity and undisputed prestige. |
| Origin | Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, France |
| Harvest | in September (Merlot 18–23 September; Cabernet Sauvignon 25–30 September) |
| Production technique | Aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels; traditional fining with egg white in barrel; bottled under sterile inert gas |
| Wine making | Aged 18 months in 100% new certified French oak barrels, naturally seasoned outdoors; regular topping up during the first six months; racked off the barrel lees about seven times every 2-3 months during ageing; traditional fining with egg white in barrel; bottled under sterile inert gas. |
| Aging | 18 months in 100% new French oak barrels, of certified origin and naturally dried outdoors |
| PH | 3.8 |
| Allergens | Contains sulphites |