Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou 2021

A fine Saint-Julien wine, bright and delicate

The estate

An iconic Classified Growth of Saint-Julien, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou reigns over a prestigious terroir. In the past 300 years, six families have worked ceaselessly to elevate this estate to the international reputation it enjoys today. A property of the Borie family since 1941, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou takes its name from its terroir of “beautiful pebbles” made up of Gunzian gravel. Under the leadership of Bruno Borie, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou has become one of the greatest red wines of Saint-Julien. Vintage after vintage, the estate’s wines have delighted lovers of Médoc wines in all four corners of the world.

The vineyard

A particularity of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is the exceptional quality of its vineyard. The vines are planted in Günzian and Pyrenean gravel soils deposited by the Gironde estuary nearly two million years ago. From these poor soils, exceptional Saint-Julien wines are born. In addition, the proximity of the Château Ducru-Beaucaillou vineyard to the Gironde estuary ensures a natural protection against the vagaries of the weather.

The wine

Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou is an introduction to the style of its elders, the Grand Vin of Ducru-Beaucaillou and La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou. Endowed with its own style, Le Petit Ducru presents the same attention from the team during the vegetative cycle of the vine, the same uncompromising selection and the same rigorous vinification as the other two wines of the estate.

Vinification and ageing

Following the harvest and a tailor-made vinification process, the wine is aged for 12 months in Bordeaux barrels, 30% in new wood and 70% in second-fill barrels. Ullage is carried out regularly during the first six months of ageing, as well as à l'esquive rackings every two to three months, with four in total.

The blend

Merlot (80%)

Cabernet Sauvignon (12%)

Petit Verdot (8%).

Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou 2021: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

This wine showcases an intense purple colour.

Nose

Expressive, the nose blends grafrances of red and black fruit (plum, blackberry) and spring flowers. Subtle notes of liquorice and vanilla bean emerge when aerated.

Palate

An intense attack precedes an ample mouth, where the brilliant fruit harmoniously blends with a creamy texture. Very fine tannins stretch to a pleasant finish, aromas of cherry and spicy mocha emerge.