Lea & Sandeman Wine Merchants

CHÂTEAU DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU

2011 2ème Cru Classé Saint Julien

Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Saint Julien
Classification 2ème Cru Classé
ABV 14%

Produced from a mere 25 hl/ha after a very severe selection saw 25% of the grapes on the vines after the flowering selected out. They seem to have been even more maniaque than their neighbours, with sorting at the harvest starting with sorting tables out in the vineyard, as well as the optical sorting machine after the égrappage. This yield is even lower than the heatwave and drought-affected 2003. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot. Very classy integrated oak and rich fruit nose. Very supple but the fruit is totally authoritative in its style. Potent, regal ripeness and definition. There is grip to the tannins - unsurprising given they are at the same level as 2010, with higher acidity and less covering alcohol, but the grip merely serves to pull out the long finish. Pretty special. Rating: 95 L&S (Apr 2012)


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The 2011 Ducru-Beaucaillou was an early-picked vintage, 5-18 September, but has the same analysis as the 2009 and 2010 in terms of IPT. Matured in 90% new oak for 18 months, it has a very well defined bouquet with intense black fruit intermingling with dried herbs and liquorice; strangely, the 2011 is not unlike the 2005 in character and also being "not ready". The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, sweet and generous yet with countervailing acidity and a gorgeous, pure and nuanced finish. This is one of the real surprises of this vertical and must rank as one of the best Left Bank wines of the vintage. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. Drinking range: 2022 - 2048 Rating: 94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Jul 2022)

Deep garnet colored, the 2011 Ducru-Beaucaillou features fragrant notes of underbrush, tilled soil, tree bark and fungi over a core of red currant jelly, preserved plums, cassis and mulberries. Medium-bodied, elegant, refreshing and with a sturdy, grainy texture, it offers just enough black fruit and earthy layers in the mouth and a savory finish. Drinking range: 2020 - 2038 Rating: 93 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Aug 2020)

Inky ruby. Laid-back aromas of dark berries, black cherry and herbs, with a subtle note of violet. Clean and bright in the mouth, with taut blackcurrant and dark cherry flavors picking up sweetness with air. The flinty black cherry note repeats on the finish, which features a subtle floral pastille quality and very good persistence. I like this wine's understated character, but I wish it had a little more flesh and sweetness for an even higher score. Rating: 91 Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (Jul 2014)

Château Ducru Beaucaillou

St Julien Deuxième cru 1855 When the Beychevelle estate was broken up in 1642, in order to pay off the debts of the deceased owner, it gave birth to three Châteaux - Beychevelle, Branaire-Ducru and Ducru-Beaucaillou. Château Ducru Beaucaillou was so named because of the quality lent to the wine by the large pebbles in the soil - the "good pebbles" being "beau caillou" (although it was originally "Maucaillou", "bad pebbles" not being much use for any other kind of agriculture). In 1795, the estate was purchased by Bertrand Ducru, and the name was complete. The early years on the 20th Century were not kind to Ducru-Beaucaillou, but salvation was on hand with its purchase by Francis Borie in 1941. Apart from some problems with TCA during the late 1980's, the tenure of the Borie family has been a time of continuing improvement at Ducru-Beaucaillou. Today, Francis' grandson Bruno Borie heads up the estate. The Borie family also own Château Grand-Puy-Lacoste and Château Haut Batailley. The 75ha of vineyard are planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot have, apparently, left the blend. The Grand Vin spends 18 to 20 months in wood, with the proportion of new wood varying between vintages. A second wine was introduced in 1995 - La Croix de Beaucaillou. Also produced at Ducru-Beaucaillou is Château Lalande-Borie from vineyard purchased from Château Lagrange in 1970 which, although it could perfectly legally be absorbed into Château Ducru Beaucaillou, has always been produced as a seperate wine.

This wine isn't currently part of a mixed case, but you can always browse our full selection of mixed cases here.
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