| St. Julien Bordeaux Second Wine of Ducru Beaucaillou Generally contains more Merlot a han the grand vin. THe 2000 reveals that component in its succulence and flesh. It should age well fro 10-12- years. It is a second label seek out. Rated 87-90 Robert Parker Château Beaucaillou is usually called Ducru-Beaucaillou from the name of its one-time owner, Mr. Ducru. Its history like that of all the great Médoc growths dates back to the end of the 17th c. and the beginning of the 18th. At the time of the Revolution, the owner was a Mr. Bergeron. Mr. Nathaniel Johnston, from a famous family of Bordeaux wine merchants, bought the estate from the Ducru-Ravez family in 1866. The Johnstons improved it in lavish style. They were at the cutting-edge of technical progress and employed highly competent technical managers and architects of great worth. The two Victorian wings sitting proudly on either side of the Directoire-style chartreuse were built during this period. In 1929 for a period of twelve years, the estate became the property of Mr. Desbarats-de-Burke who then sold it to Mr. Francis Borie. His son Jean-Eugène and his family are still the proprietors. The vineyard, well named des beaux cailloux (of the beautiful pebbles), lies on 50 hectares of very lovely gravelly crests parallel to the Gironde. A magnificent park with centuries-old trees stretches down to the river. The wine is looked after with meticulous and incessant care. Nothing is neglected to achieve the very highest quality. Ducru-Beaucaillou is considered by many specialists to be the quintessential wine of Bordeaux, particularly of Médoc. |
