Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou 2022

The fruity concentration and smoothness of a great Saint-Julien red wine

The estate

An icon of the Left Bank, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is undoubtedly one of the greatest names in the Bordeaux region. The 2nd Cru Classé in the Official Classification of 1855 embodies the perfect model of a great Saint-Julien. Château Ducru-Beaucaillou was acquired by the Borie family in 1941 and takes its name from its extraordinary terroir. Ducru-Beaucaillou is managed with brilliance and determination by the talented Bruno Borie and belongs to the elite of the great Saint-Julien wines.

The vineyard

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

The wine

Ducru-Beaucaillou's Petit Ducru is intended as an introduction to the style of the estate's Grand Vin Ducru-Beaucaillou and La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou. With its own style, Le Petit Ducru has the same attention to the vine's growth cycle, the same uncompromising selection and the same meticulous vinification as the other two wines of the estate.

The vintage

A very rainy winter and month of April preceded a warm month of May which advanced an early and rapid flowering and fruit setting. Heavy rainfall at the end of June was offset by three heat waves between June and August. Although the summer drought slowed down the veraison and contained the accumulation of sugars, it favoured optimal ripening of the berries. The rainy spells in the second half of August saved the vineyard, guaranteeing a gradual ripening of the grapes.

Winemaking and ageing

Ageing for 18 months.

Blend

Merlot (75%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (20%)
Petit Verdot (5%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou 2022

Tasting

Nose
Ample, the nose opens with floral (lily) and fruity (blackberry, java plum) fragrances. With airing, the bouquet becomes more complex with notes of cocoa and vanilla bean.

Palate
Harmoniously combining a full-bodied structure with a velvety touch, the palate delights with its concentration, its silky tannins, its richness and its freshness.