beaux cailloux 1941 Borie mile Peynaud SaintJulien

5075 Beychevelle BranaireDucru Cabernet Sauvignon 65% MerlotCabernet Franc Petit Verdot

Ducru-Beaucaillou SaintJulien

AOC Saint Julien (Grand Cru Class)

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot

12.5%

750

(Robert Parker’s rating: 90 points)
1985 DucruBeaucaillou

Chteau DucruBeaucaillou, a renowned Super Second of Bordeaux, takes its name from the beaux cailloux the beautiful pebbles of its gravel soils. Acquired by the Borie family in 1941, the estate rose under the guidance of legendary oenologist mile Peynaud, becoming a benchmark of SaintJulien.

The vineyard spans 5075 hectares near Beychevelle, bordered by BranaireDucru and protected by the Gironde river. Deep gravel beds enriched with clay and alluvial deposits provide drainage, warmth, and resilience. Cabernet Sauvignon dominates plantings, complemented by Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.

The grand vin is praised for elegance and finesse, often compared to First Growths yet offered at a fraction of their price. It typically requires a decade of aging and can evolve for decades.

Graceful yet profound, DucruBeaucaillou combines ripe fruit, structure, and harmony, revealing its full personality only with time.

Appellation:
AOC Saint Julien (Grand Cru Class), Bordeaux

Country of Origin:
Bordeaux, France

Type:
Red/Rouge (Still)

Grape Varieties:
70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot

Alcohol Content:
12.5%

Volume:
750mL

Tasting Notes:
(Robert Parker’s rating: 90 points)
Pale to medium brick-brown colored, the 1985 Ducru-Beaucaillou slowly unfurls to reveal notes of Christmas pudding, dried cranberries and bouquet garni with nuances of cast iron pan, dusty soil and woodsmoke. Medium-bodied, the palate has a firm, chewy backbone and oodles of freshness with a core of dried herbs and stewed tea and a slightly rustic finish.