LE PETIT DUCRU
2023 Saint Julien Château Ducru Beaucaillou
| Grapes | Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cab Sauv |
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Bordeaux |
| Sub-district | Haut Médoc |
| Village | Saint Julien |
| ABV | 14% |
72 Merlot, 24 Cabernet Sauvignon, 4 Petit Verdot: 13.7% alc: 3.73 pH: 89 IPT: Harvested between 8 September – 3 October Gosh, there is some clear DNA in this wine trickling down from the Grand Vin and La Croix here, and while this is a third wine, and it sits lowest on the ladder, it lacks nothing in flair and deliciousness. There is admirable complexity and a long, even finish, and the tannins are well-drilled and respectful. Granted, you can crack on after three or four years and have some classic Ducru fun, but it has an engine to live until 2035 with ease, making this Petit an authentic candidate for this moniker and the finest Little Ducru to date. 17+/20 Rating: 17+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2024)
Alternatively, we may well have some bottles in one of our shops - why not give us a call on 0207 244 0522 or send an email to: sales@leaandsandeman.co.uk.
Or, check the RELATED PRODUCTS below for different vintages or wines of a similar style.
Plush and fragrant opening to Le Petit Ducru in this vintage, the deep black pepper, capsicum and turmeric spice that is a signature of the vintage, with gorgeous fresh slate and graphite set against cassis fruits. 30% new oak for ageing. Drinking range: 2026 - 2036 Rating: 90 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)
The 2023 Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou is packed with blackberry, chocolate, licorice, cloves and menthol. A wine of substance and textural richness, Le Petit Ducru shows the more opulent side of a year marked with late-season heat, also revealing some stylistic choices by way of its bombastic personality. This Saint-Julien is certainly not shy. Drinking range: 2025 - 2035 Rating: 89-91 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2024)
This comes from 25 hectares from the western part of the appellation, although about 10 hectares is currently being replanted. It takes fruit from the La Croix vineyards as well though. The blend is 72% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon and 4% Petit Verdot. A sweet and fragrant nose, with perfumed black cherry and a charcoal-laced mineral notes. This translates into a linear and beautifully delineated palate, with dark fruit, sinewy and lithe as the vintage should be, underpinned by a firm and fine line of tannins, and showing plenty of freshness and grip, with a long wrap of tannins in the length here. Tension, expression, vigour and grip here; this is bound to offer some great (and great value) drinking. The alcohol level is about 13.7%. Rating: 91-93 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)
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.
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RELATED PRODUCTS
2009 CHÂTEAU LAGRANGE 3ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
Bordeaux France 13.5% Red
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Tasted at the château during the 2015 primeur campaign, 2009 Lagrange is opening slowly and moving on from fruit aromas to tobacco and spice. Very attractive, a hedonistic wine that can be enjoyed from now, but whi...(read more)
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