{"title":"Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou","description":"\u003ch6\u003eAt Ducru-Beaucaillou, excellence is shaped inch by inch thanks to an intimate understanding of what the vines want to offer. Experience, intuition, questioning, for a symbiosis with Mother Earth; humans are only passing through these noble terroirs. Nature being a “subject of law”, every procedure in the vineyard is respectful of the entire ecosystem: herbicides have been abandoned in favour of mechanical weeding and judicious grass cover; chemical fertilisers replaced with manure and quality composts; insecticides with pheromones to fight against grapevine moths or kaolin clay to lure the green leafhopper. Measures to facilitate aeration and sun exposure of the bunches, to avoid Botrytis and, where applicable, bacilli. Before the harvest, constant monitoring of the available nitrogen. Reasoned viticulture, which earned the property ISO 14001 certification in 2016, supplemented since 2017 by HVE3 certification (high environmental value level 3).\u003c\/h6\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"la-croix-de-beaucaillou-red-wine","title":"La Croix de Beaucaillou","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe wines of La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou come from the vineyard of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. This exceptional Médoc terroir is situated between the Gironde River to the east, the centre and the west of the Saint-Julien appellation. The estate owes its name to its “beautiful pebbles” (\"beaux cailloux\", in French) which, because of their high quartz content, make for soils that are poor in plant nutrients. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is precisely this “agrological” paucity, as the late Bordeaux professor and geographer, René Pijassou, described it, that makes them so well-suited to the production of fine wine. In the east, the plots are planted along the rolling Médoc ridges, just above the estuary, while those at the epicentre benefit from a microclimate nurtured by the little La Mouline stream that meanders through the middle of the appellation from west to east before disappearing into the Gironde.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWinemaker notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLa Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is an original expression of the terroirs of Ducru-Beaucaillou, a blend that is one of a kind. Ducru-Beaucaillou’s elitist approach is fully at work here. As is a passion, that of a team dedicated to excellence. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA high-flying wine that perfectly expresses its terroir of exception. This wine blends a high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon (around 60% each year), completed with Merlot Noir (35% to 37%) as well as a subtly spicy touch of Petit Verdot (3% to 5%).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePowerful, silky, very aromatic, La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou beguiles with its bouquet, its balance, its remarkable finesse and its lengthy finish. A great cuvée that stimulates, then captivates the senses; it is the perfect introduction to the Borie signature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e2016\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 92:\u003c\/strong\u003e Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 La Croix de Beaucaillou gives up aromas of cassis, earth, black plums, black cherries and mulberries with wafts of menthol, cigars and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is lively and earthy with firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and mineral-laced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling 94:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pristine, attractive fruit with perfume and freshness. Dark-berry and plum notes, as well as cassis and brambleberries, define the character of both nose and palate. The tannins are saturated in ripe dark berries and plums and deliver a superbly fresh, shimmering, dark-fruited finish. Wow-factor is strong here in 2016. Try this from 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinous 93:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2016 Croix de Beaucaillou has a very attractive bouquet of high-toned but controlled blackberry and blueberry fruit neatly enmeshed with some quality new oak. The medium-bodied palate delivers fine-boned tannins, well-judged acidity and a silky-smooth, sensual finish that lingers long in the mouth. This is a very impressive 2016. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter 93:\u003c\/strong\u003e Matured with two-thirds new oak, the 2016 La Croix absolutely reflects the classical style of the vintage. Although oak is a little more on view than in the fruit-dominant 2018, the overall affect here is of great purity and subtlety. A wine clearly showing its quality and breeding. Fragrant and concentrated, with firm but ripe tannins on the palate, a touch of leafiness. Very Bordeaux in structure with dark blackcurrant\/Cabernet fruit to the fore. Drinking well but will keep.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Enthusiast 94:\u003c\/strong\u003e Richly spicy with swathes of black fruit and dark tannins, this powerful wine also shows great elegance. Juicy fruits shine through the structure to give a wine with a good future. Drink this rich wine from 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e2018\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 92:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2018 La Croix de Beaucaillou is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, aged 12 months in two-third new barriques. It has a pH of 3.75, 15% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 96. Deep garnet-purple colored, it rolls effortlessly out of the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blueberries, baked plums and blackcurrant cordial with hints of bouquet garni, underbrush, clove oil and cast-iron pan. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing earthy. Not a second wine as such, because it comes from a dedicated part of the vineyard, the blocks for La Croix de Beaucaillou are generally located on the south bank of the La Mouline steam.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling 94:\u003c\/strong\u003e Aromas of blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant with violet and lavender, following through to a full body with very fine tannins and a creamy, beautifully caressing texture. Like the chocolate, walnut and berry aftertaste. Second wine of Ducru. Drink after 2025.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinous 93:\u003c\/strong\u003e Just as it was en primeur, the 2018 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is rich, sensual and enveloping. Silky tannins wrap around a core of blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather. All the elements are so well balanced in this sumptuous, racy Saint-Julien. A warm growing season yielded small berries and heady, concentrated flavors. This is such a gorgeous wine. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter 90:\u003c\/strong\u003e In 2018, La Croix is a rumbustious, powerful St-Julien weighing in with 15% alcohol. This feels very New World in character, in a blind-tasting it could almost be mistaken for a Napa Valley wine. Impressive in its heft, the fleshy fruit is plump and ripe but the palate finishes rather hot, with edgy tannins reflecting the challenges of the vintage. Impressive but not as refreshing as I'd like my Bordeaux to be.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ducru Beaucaillou","offers":[{"title":"2016","offer_id":51071632146754,"sku":"BOR051465","price":100.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/2872\/2498\/files\/LaCroixdeBeaucaillou.png?v=1754382600"},{"product_id":"madame-de-beaucaillou-red-wine","title":"Madame de Beaucaillou","description":"\u003ch4\u003e2019\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 89:\u003c\/strong\u003e From fully 50 hectares of vineyards in Listrac and Cussac, planted with a majority of Merlot, the 2019 Madame de Beaucaillou offers up aromas of blackberry and cassis, framed by a deft application of creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, bright and lively, with powdery tannins and a saline finish, it's a hearty, chunky, flavorful wine that will round out with a bit of bottle age.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling 92:\u003c\/strong\u003e Really floral and pretty with currants, cherries and some violets and stones. Medium-bodied with a creamy texture. Attractive tannins and stony undertones. A large percentage of merlot with the cabernet, making it fresh and firm. Sophisticated. Better after 2024.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter 88:\u003c\/strong\u003e High-toned clarity on a pure nose of red and black fruit. Powerful core, tannins are dominant but not in an astringent way, just mouth-filling. The fruit is there - cherry, strawberry and blackcurrant, just closed, a bit astringent and tight-knitted right now. It has the structure to be a gourmet wine but needs two to three years to really soften. From 55ha in Haut-Médoc and the same technical team as Ducru-Beaucaillou.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e2020\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 89+:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2020 Madame de Beaucaillou exhibits notes of cassis, pencil shavings, plums and violets, followed by a medium to full-bodied, lively palate that's structured around youthfully firm, chalky tannins. It should reward a bit of patience. It's derived from some 50 hectares of vineyards in Listrac and Cussac.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling 92:\u003c\/strong\u003e Aromas of currants and dark cherries with orange peel character. Medium-bodied with fine tannins and chocolate with hints of cedar. Crisp and vivid. 66% merlot, 24% cabernet sauvignon and 10% petit verdot. Drink or hold.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinous 91:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2020 Madame de Beaucaillou was picked 11-30 September, matured 20% in new oak for an expected 12 months. It displays good intensity on the nose: blackberry, iodine and iris petals scents, just a scintilla of honey. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, displaying fine depth. The judicious use of new oak allows the black fruit to shine on the finish, with hints of pencil lead on the aftertaste. This is well worth seeking out.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter 92:\u003c\/strong\u003e Medicinal herbs and dark fruits - smells forward and nuanced with a soft perfumed element too. A gourmet style with bright acidity and a saline tang. There’s focus, freshness and underlying power. A serious wine with a full body, minty freshness and structure. Plush, succulent, perhaps not overly complex but it really delivers for the price and will age. Firm and grippy finish. Snap this up!\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ducru Beaucaillou","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47562500243778,"sku":"BOR012958","price":45.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/2872\/2498\/files\/MadamedeBeaucaillou1000px.jpg?v=1704445220"},{"product_id":"ducru-beaucaillou-red-wine","title":"Ducru Beaucaillou","description":"\u003cp\u003eChâteau Ducru-Beaucaillou owes its name to its \"beautiful pebbles\" (\"beaux Cailloux\", in French) that geologists refer to less romantically as Gunzian gravel. These quartz pebbles were deposited by the ancient Garonne at the beginning of the early Quaternary period, some two million years ago. It suffices to take a walk through the vineyards to make rich lithological finds. Lydian jasper from the Pyrenees, flint, quartz, agatoids... These Gunzian gravels make for soils that are poor in plant nutrients. But it is their very agrological paucity that guarantees the qualitative excellence of the wines. A choice of nature.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eWinemaker notes\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA soft, fruity attack on the palate, a voluptuousness underscored by perfectly integrated, silky tannins that culminate in an exceptionally lengthy finish. The aromas dance, flatter the nose, seduce the soul and penetrate the memory. A muse that arrives on tiptoe and leave a lasting, infinite souvenir.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e1975\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter 92:\u003c\/strong\u003e A bit shy at first, the 1975 Ducru-Beaucaillou is more vibrant and fresher with air. Fresh with a menthol hit, the bouquet shows red-dark berries, blackcurrant, spices and tobacco aromas. The palate is perfectly balanced with fine-grained tannins, tension and freshness. This is not the densest of wines but it's a very elegant and refined version.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e1988\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 89:\u003c\/strong\u003e Proprietor Bruno Borie referred to this as \"the Indian Summer vintage.\" Medium to deep brick in color with a hint of brown, the 1988 Ducru-Beaucaillou gives up pronounced notes of leather, Chinese five spice, sandalwood and cigar box with a core of dried figs and cranberries plus hints of fruitcake and smoked meats. Medium-bodied and mature, the palate still possesses a fair bit of chew with lingering notions of exotic spices and black tea, finishing with a fragrant dried herbs lift.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e1989\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 92:\u003c\/strong\u003e Harvest took place this year from 11th to 24th September. The wine was aged for around 12 months in two-thirds new oak. Pale to medium brick colored, the 1989 Ducru-Beaucaillou sashays out of the glass with pretty notes of dried flowers, fallen leaves and dusty soil over a core of warm figs, dried cherries, prunes and spice cake plus wafts of unsmoked cigars and powdered cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is still seductively rich with a lively line of soft, silt-like tannins, finishing long and wonderfully savory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e2008\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 94:\u003c\/strong\u003e Deep garnet colored, the 2008 Ducru-Beaucaillou begins a little broody, giving up glimpses of tar, chargrill, moss covered tree bark and fungi scents over a core of baked plums, warm cassis and blackberry compote plus a touch of unsmoked cigars. Medium-bodied, the palate has firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the earth laced black fruit layers, finishing minerally.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling 94:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wow. This is really impressive for the vintage, with a solid core of raspberry, currants and spices. Full and round, with velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Superb winemaking for the vintage. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e2019\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 96+:\u003c\/strong\u003e Powerful and muscular, the 2019 Ducru-Beaucaillou offers up aromas of cassis, raspberries and cherries mingled with notions of violets and iris, framed by a generous application of creamy new oak. Full-bodied, velvety and concentrated, it's rich but lively, with a deep core of fruit and an ample endowment of ripe, powdery tannins. Fuller maturity and a more rigorous selection over the last two decades have brought what proprietor Bruno Borie characterizes as additional \"punch\" to this wine, in the form of unprecedented levels of anthocyanins and tannins, but all that substance and structure will require some patience before we'll see if Ducru is still Saint-Julien's most elegant wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling 98:\u003c\/strong\u003e This is so seductive on the nose, with perfumes of violets, blackcurrants, raspberries, and orange peel. Subtle. Ethereal. Full-bodied with such fine tannins and delicacy, with great length and beauty. Sophisticated and refined. Really amazing purity and depth. Great length, too. 80% cabernet sauvignon and 20% merlot.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinous 95:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2019 Ducru Beaucaillou has a pastille-like purity on the nose - black cherries, blueberry, quite floral and Margaux-like in style. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, showy and opulent, yet undeniably there is real backbone behind this Saint-Julien. Velvety smooth on the finish, this is the right way to produce decadent Left Bank Bordeaux. Fabulous. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter 96:\u003c\/strong\u003e Rich, ripe, heady nose filled with milk chocolate, blackcurrant and black cherry with floral touches. This is a beguiling wine, starting off smooth and velvety with a bright cherry freshness that is fun and playful before settling and deepening into a black fruit profile, seductively drawing you in and presenting layer upon layer of acidity, flavour and tannins that, despite being abundant and mouth filling are juicy, soft and fine. Precision winemaking on show here, and across the entire range of wines this year. This is complex and defined with an aerial finish that's filled with crushed stone and freshly picked mint. A glass of wine you just want to sit with and think about. One to buy and hold on to.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Enthusiast 98:\u003c\/strong\u003e A very fine wine, rich with its tannins and its structure. The wine is powerful without losing sight of its fine fruits, black currant flavors and acidity. Balanced and with great potential. Drink from 2027.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e2020\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 95:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2020 Ducru-Beaucaillou unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, pencil shavings, violets and pipe tobacco, all framed by creamy new oak. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, fleshy and concentrated, with a deep but tightly wound core that's still quite wrapped up in extract and oak tannin, even if it isn't quite as big-boned as its 2019 counterpart. It will require some patience.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling 97:\u003c\/strong\u003e Blackcurrants and blueberries with violets and crushed stone. Extremely aromatic. Full-bodied but very tight and reserved, with racy, almost steely tannins. Some subtle sweet fruit in the center palate. Great transparency and clarity. Super precision here. Vertical and polished. Try after 2028.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinous 96-98:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2020 Ducru Beaucaillou was picked from 11-30 September, matured entirely in new oak for an expected 18 months. It has a very succinct bouquet, not one that leaps from the glass and demands attention, but it unfolds slowly, at its own pace, revealing enticing scents of blackberry, cedar, iris petals and crushed stone. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit. There is a saline spine that runs through this Saint-Julien from start to finish, a quite enormous structure that exerts grip towards the finish. It is not a Ducru-Beaucaillou that goes out to deliver finesse or understatement, but one that you will have to cellar for a few years, pull out and have the superlatives ready. This is an immense and cerebral Ducru-Beaucaillou from Bruno Borie and his team.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter 99:\u003c\/strong\u003e Evocative and moreish, a Ducru that beguiles and delights from the start with a scented nose full of cedar, rose, violets, cherries and damsons - a riot of Cabernet typicity. Vibrant and pulsing on the palate, this has grip and intention from the get-go. Massy, full and wide in the mouth - there’s density and this is broad but it’s delicate too - a sense of weightlessness with such movement and energy and a soft sweet, succulent grip throughout. Powerful with present tannins that unravel slowly so there’s time to appreciate the details as they come. A thoughtful and intellectual wine that leaves a smile on your face.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e2021\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Advocate 94-96:\u003c\/strong\u003e A wine that will delight Médoc purists, the 2021 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a blend of fully 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot and checks in at a mere 12.5% alcohol. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper, violets, loamy soil and spices, it's full-bodied, layered and velvety, with superb depth at the core, lively acids and powdery tannins. Complete and penetrating, it's a true classic, reminiscent of a modern-day version of Ducru's brilliant 1996—though today's precision winemaking means that the 2021 is unlikely to go through so long a hibernation as that vintage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinous 98:\u003c\/strong\u003e The 2021 Ducru-Beaucaillou captures all the potential it showed from barrel. A delicate, understated wine, the 2021 impresses above all else with its finesse. All the elements are impeccably balanced throughout. Time in the glass brings out the wine's inner sweetness and gorgeous perfume. The balance with oak, at times a challenge here, is also flawless. With lower alcohol and therefore also less extraction from oak than recent vintages, the 2021 is shaping up to be a modern-day classic. The blend is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, the highest amount of Cabernet Sauvignon ever here. What a wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDecanter 97:\u003c\/strong\u003e Richly scented and vibrant nose of dark fruits, liquorice and cocoa. Supple and invigorating, fresh acidity lifting the expression, nuanced and detailed. Softly grained tannins have a chalky aspect giving structure and a filling texture, lots of graphite and wet stones with black berry notes and such energy throughout. Juicy and alive, this is classic in the best sense, and has immediate charm but with the potential to age. I also love the fresh, zesty orange aspects and cool lift throughout.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003e2023\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJames Suckling 96-97:\u003c\/strong\u003e This has aromas of blackberries and blackcurrant, as well as graphite and flint. Some gunpowder. It’s full-bodied with extremely refined tannins, a creamy character and al-dente fruit at the finish. Crunchy, succulent and linear. Mineral edge to it, like licking a stone. Energetic. 83% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Ducru Beaucaillou","offers":[{"title":"1975","offer_id":51958475292994,"sku":"BOR051473","price":790.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false},{"title":"1988","offer_id":51958472212802,"sku":"BOR050609","price":445.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true},{"title":"1989","offer_id":51860867711298,"sku":"BOR050610","price":298.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2008","offer_id":52985084379458,"sku":"BOR010962","price":280.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":false},{"title":"2019","offer_id":51958479847746,"sku":"BOR012986","price":245.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2020","offer_id":47562675650882,"sku":"BOR050513","price":388.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true},{"title":"2021","offer_id":49735941947714,"sku":"BOR050857","price":338.0,"currency_code":"SGD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/2872\/2498\/files\/Ducru_Beaucaillou_1970s.png?v=1771920265"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0700\/2872\/2498\/collections\/Chateau_Ducru-Beaucaillou.png?v=1771912495","url":"https:\/\/www.grandvin.com.sg\/collections\/chateau-ducru-beaucaillou-wines.oembed","provider":"Grand Vin Pte Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}