Petit Ducru De Beaucaillou 2019

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a well-regarded wine estate in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux’s Haut-Médoc wine region, on the so-called “left bank” of the Gironde estuary. The estate and its eponymous grand vin (the estate’s principle wine) was rated a second growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification.

It is often described as the quintessential Saint-Julien – deeply colored and powerfully ripe, yet balanced and harmonious. The grand vin usually needs 10 years of aging and can last for decades. A second wine, Croix de Beaucaillou, is also produced from the Ducru vineyard.

The 75-hectare (185-acre) vineyard is situated in the southeast of the appellation, north of the village of Beychevelle and bordering Branaire-Ducru and Beychevelle to the south, with Léoville and Langoa Barton to the north.

The Ducru-Beaucaillou château and estate lies relatively close to the broad Gironde estuary, which moderates the local microclimate and gives some protection from frost and hail. On the deeper gravel layers of the vineyard there is enhanced drainage, evening warmth, and a protective layer stopping the subsoil from drying out in heat waves.

TASTE:
The nose offers a fine concentration and a small racy power. It reveals notes of wild cassis, racy minerality, small notes of small wild berries associated with touches of small crushed red fruits as well as fine hints of pepper, nutmeg and a discreet hint of camphor. The palate is fruity, slightly tight, well-balanced and offers a fine acidulous frame, juiciness, gourmandize as well as tension, suavity, a small concentration, a small freshness and a very fine unctuosity. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackberry, juicy/pulpy cassis, small notes of small crushed red berrues associated with fine touches of fresh violet, racy minerality as well as discreet hints of iris, camphor, dark chocolate, a very discreet hint of crushed almond (in the background) and a subtle hint of fresh mild tobacco. Good length. Tannins are well-built. A persistence on notes of dark chocolate and on very fine hints of caramelization.