Bruno Borie has decided to wait until virtually all the Bordeaux offices are shut before releasing Château Ducru Beaucaillou (£1750) and its ‘definitely not the second wine but another good Saint Julien of cru classé quality’. Like Clos du Marquis (offered last week) Croix de Beaucaillou (£395) is a wine from a distinct vineyard rather than a ‘second wine’. The second wine of Ducru is now called ‘Petit Caillou’.
Ducru is down significantly in price from 2009, and has a better note from Robert Parker and other critics. I thought it stunning – one of the wines of the vintage.
To celebrate the difference, and as thought to tie in the presentation with the nightclubby feel of the reception and tasting rooms at Ducru, Bruno has had Jade Jagger design a new livery for Croix de Beaucaillou from 2010, which we are told will look something like this:-
Also on open offer this evening are a few remaining cases of Château Clerc Milon (£565)