Menu
By placing bids on items you acknowledge you are entering into a binding and irrevocable agreement to purchase such items as governed by our Terms and Conditions.
By placing bids on items you acknowledge you are entering into a binding and irrevocable agreement to purchase such items as governed by our Terms and Conditions.
Bordeaux
Free Valuations
Bid for Wine offer free no obligation wine valuations. If you have similar wines to sell, or want a valuation on a collection we can help.
Start Valuation
Château Ducru Beaucaillou is in the Saint Julien appellation and achieved Second Growth status in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. The term ‘Super Second’ was coined to describe Ducru Beaucaillou and other Second Growths like Château Palmer by virtue of the higher prices these wines command compared to their peers.
The Château adopted the prefix ‘Ducru’ after the family who owned the estate in the 19th Century, while the original Beaucaillou name refers to the ‘beautiful pebbles’ found in the vineyard. Today the estate is managed by Bruno Borie, the third generation of Bories to own the Château since it was acquired by Francis Borie in 1942. However, it was Bruno’s winemaker father, Jean-Eugène, who brought the property into a new era. 2020 marked the estate’s 300th Anniversary.
The 50 hectares of vineyards are devoted solely to Cabernet Sauvignon (70%) and Merlot (30%) planted at a density of 10,000 vines per hectare. Well-drained gravel soils afford excellent growing conditions across the varying plots which are vinified separately. Yields have been lowered from 16,000 cases annually in 2002 to 8,000 or 9,000 in recent vintages in a drive to make the best possible wines.
The ‘grand vin’ represents 40% of production, which is aged for 18 months in 100% new oak barrels as in the 2020 vintage. La Croix de Beaucaillou, the estate’s second wine, accounts for half of production while the third label, Le Petit Caillou, the remaining 10%. Both the ‘grand vin’ and La Croix are made from distinct plots, with the latter coming from the vineyards of Château Terrey-Gros-Caillou which was acquired in 2005. The second wine is aged for 12 months in 60% new oak and with a greater proportion of Merlot in the blend. Le Petit Caillou is produced from grapes that have not met the strict selection criteria for the ‘grand vin’.
Bruno Borie and his sister, Sabine Coiffe, manage another Saint Julien property, Château Lalande-Borie, which was created by their father in 1970. Its wines have been labelled Le Petit Ducru de Ducru Beaucaillou since the 2019 vintage, thus offering an accessible entry to the Ducru stable.
© 2024 Bid for Wine. All rights reserved.
![[July Lot 62] Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 1998 [1 magnum]](https://resize.bidforwine.co.uk//resized/images/w400/lots/1/82508.jpg)
![[July Lot 60] Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 1983 [1 magnum]](https://resize.bidforwine.co.uk//resized/images/w400/lots/1/82507.jpg)
![Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2001 [OWC of 12 bottles] [October Lot 40.]](https://resize.bidforwine.co.uk//resized/images/w400/lots/1/78657.jpg)
