History
The origin of the Ducru-Beaucaillou vineyards may be traced back to the 17th Century, when they were once part of a much larger property, Beychevelle. The seeds that grew into Ducru-Beaucaillou and also Branaire-Ducru were sown in 1642 when, following the death of Beychevelle's proprietor, the Duc d'Epernon, Bernard de Valette, the estate was sold off in order to settle his not inconsiderable debts. This act led to the parcellation of the estate, and although some of the vineyards were gathered together again by subsequent owners of Beychevelle, some were destined to remain separate. One part was purchased by Jean-Baptiste Braneyre in 1680, and that is the Branaire-Ducru of today. A second part, very near the Gironde, was to be what we know today as Ducru-Beaucaillou.
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou is named after the beautiful, large stones found in its unique wine-growing terroir. This exceptional ecosystem produces fine, elegant, tasty wines, with a long finish – in short, archetypal Saint-Julien wines.Perched on an exceptional site with incomparable views over the Gironde estuary, in the centre of a hundred-year-old park, Ducru-Beaucaillou is a majestic, Victorian-style castle, which has, over time, become one of the great symbols of the Médoc. Unusually for Bordeaux, it is built directly above the barrel cellars, enveloping its owners, who have lived here for over sixty years, in the sumptuous aromas of their wine. Today, the estate is managed by the company Jean Eugène Borie SA, which is owned by Mrs Borie, her daughter Sabine Coiffe and her son Bruno-Eugène, CEO since 2003, the third generation of the Borie family to head the estate. The Johnston Family
In March 1866, after having owned the estate for seventy-one years, the Ducru family sold the castle to Lucie-Caroline Dassier (1841-1876) for one million francs. She was the wife of the famous Bordeaux wine merchant and earthenware producer, Nathaniel Johnston (1836-1914). He even tried to simplify the name to Beaucaillou, removing any association with the prior owners, but permission was refused. Johnston had inherited the family business set up by his ancestor William, who arrived in Bordeaux in 1743. Descended from the Scottish Hartfield family, the Johnstons, Marquesses of Annandale, had emigrated from Ireland in 1640. Nathaniel Johnston, a brilliant student, was passionate about the Médoc (he was even elected to represent the area) and in particular his village, Saint-Julien. He was mayor from 1903 to 1908 and built a Protestant church, a hospice and a nursery in the village for the families of his employees. With the help of Ernest David, the innovative estate manager, Nathaniel Johnston restructured the vines and cellars of Ducru-Beaucaillou. He carried out several experiments on varietals and on vine diseases.In 1878 he and David perfected a blend of copper sulphate and lime milk called the bouillie bordelaise, or Bordeaux soup, an efficient remedy against the terrible mildew that was ravaging the vines. Thus Bordeaux Mixture was discovered, the substance being tested in the Dauzac vineyards. This remedy was quickly adopted by all vineyards worldwide.Two years after the death of his first wife, Lucie-Caroline, Nathaniel married Princess Marie Caradja of Constantinople (1845-1910), the daughter of Prince Constantine of Turkey. In her honor he augmented and refurbished the chateau. Wanting to make Ducru-Beaucaillou as beautiful as its wines, the pair called on architect Michel-Louis Garros, a native of Barsac in the Gironde, graduate of the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris and winner of the Prix d’Architecture in 1887. Garros built two Victorian towers on the northern and southern flanks of the former charterhouse and added two wings to give the building a more harmonious and majestic U shape, but there was also a conservatory and newly landscaped gardens leading down to the Gironde. Ducru-Beaucaillou became a notable landmark.Sixty-three years after they purchased the castle, the heartbroken Johnstons were forced to sell Beaucaillou during the economic crash of 1929. They retained a profound and sincere attachment to this estate, so much so that the daughter of Nathaniel Johnston and Princess Marie Caradja, Fannie Catherine Johnston, who was born in Beaucaillou, asked to be buried on her death in 1971, in the cemetery of Saint-Julien, so that she could stay within sight of her beloved Ducru-Beaucaillou. The Borie Family
One of the 61 red ‘grands crus’ classified as a second cru in the famous Bordeaux Wine Classification of 1855, it has been in the Borie family for over 60 years. Today, while many Bordeaux chateaux are owned by remote conglomerates or absent landowners, the Borie family lives on the estate on a daily basis and continues to put its imprint on this highly reputed estate, with the assistance of a loyal and enthusiastic team.
Nowadays’ owner: Bruno Borie
Bruno Borie is the younger son of Jean-Eugène Borie and Monique Rochette. From 1981 to 1985, he was sales director of Bordeaux wine-merchants Peter Alan Sichel, which also owned the famous Chateau Palmer and Angludet. Initially covering the Belgian and Swiss markets, he later moved on to the US and the Far East. It was in New York in 1985 that he discovered and fell in love with Lillet, the Bordeaux aperitif. Bruno did everything to revive this wonderful drink, first produced in 1872 by the Lillet brothers. The upshot was that turnover has increased fivefold since the acquisition of Lillet in 1985 and today, almost 1 million bottles are shipped worldwide every year. In 1994, Bruno’s father asked him to join the management team at Jean-Eugène Borie SA so that he could take part in important decisions in the family wine-making company. Bruno was also elected Chairman of the ‘Conseil des Grands Crus Classés’ from 1997 to 1999. In January 2003, he became Chairman of the Board of Jean-Eugène Borie SA which today controls the estates belonging to himself, his mother Monique and his sister Sabine: Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou and Chateau Lalande-Borie in Saint-Julien, and Chateau Ducluzeau ‘cru bourgeois’ in Listrac. Technique Information
Location: The vineyards at Ducru run almost down to the Gironde, lying between those of parent Beychevelle to the north and Latour, in the commune of Pauillac, to the south.
Appellation: Appellation Saint-Julien Controlee
Neighboring Chateau: Chateau Latour(1st Growth 1855 Pauillac)
Chateau Gruaud-Larose(2nd Growth 1855 Saint Julien)
Chateau Beychevelle(4th Growth 1855 Saint Julien)
Chateau Talbot(4th Growth 1855 Saint Julien)
Acreage: The estate of Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou extends over some 220 hectares, 75 of which are in vine, with almost 3 hectares of parkland and almost 140 hectares of pastureland, marshes and forests.
Soil: poor, acidic quartz- and flint-rich soil, bare of limestone, with low exchangeable bases.
Grape Varieties: 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot.
Average age of vines: 35 years
Cultivation density: 10,000 vines/ ha.
Viticulture: Vine management, while traditional (double Guyot pruning etc.), includes the latest viticultural techniques (manual leaf-thinning, green harvests in summer etc.). In short, the four golden rules are: plot-based management, controlled yields, optimized vine stocks lifespan and sustainable phytosanitary treatments.
Winemaking:
Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou(First Label): All grapes are hand-picked. After sorting，suitable destalking and pressing, the must (juice, skin and pips) starts to ferment at between 28° and 30° (82°-86°F) for grapes from old vines and at slightly lower temperatures for younger plots. Alcoholic fermentation generally takes about 2 weeks; the vats are drained after alcoholic fermentation and maceration. After malolactic fermentation in November or December, vatted with for Ducru-Beaucaillou between 50 and 80% in new wood.
La Croix de Beaucaillou(Second Label): La Croix de Beaucaillou has been bottled on the property since 1995. Until then, it was sold in bulk to Bordeaux wine merchants. For La Croix de Beaucaillou, between 20 and 40% of new barrels are used according to the richness of the vintage. The wine is matured for 12 months.
Chateau Lalande Borie(Third Label): At Chateau Lalande Borie, all the grapes are harvested manually. Sorting is carried out directly in the vines on mobile tables to avoid contact between unhealthy and healthy grapes during transport to the vat room. Alcoholic fermentation is managed at relatively low temperatures (between 26 and 28°) to optimize the fruity aromas of the wine. Pumping-over is gentle to avoid extracting too many tannins and obtain a pleasant fattiness. Malolactic fermentation of the free run wine and the press-wine (pneumatic pressing) takes place in vats for optimal control. The wine is barrelled 20 to 30% new barrels according to the vintage.
Yield: 40-55hl/ha
Brand: Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou(First Label)(A.O.C. Saint-Julien)
La Croix de Beaucaillou(Second Label)(A.O.C. Saint-Julien)
Chateau Lalande Borie(Third Label)(A.O.C. Saint-Julien)
Annually production: producing 12,000 to 19,000 cases
Character:
This exceptional ecosystem produces fine, elegant, tasty wines, with a long finish – in short, archetypal Saint-Julien wines. Supple yet full-bodied, a typically fine Saint Julien that needs 8-10 years to reveal its rich and fruity, elegant flavors of cassis, vanilla and ripe blackberries.
Best vintages:
Awards: 2nd Growth of Pauillac in 1855
Website: www.chateau-ducru-beaucaillou.com
Serving Suggestion
Cellar Humidity and Temperature: 75-85%, 15 ℃
Serving Temperature: 16-18 °C
Food match:
With strong flavoured dishes (wine sauces, game or exotic and grilled dishes) opt for young vintages. With lighter meals (roasts, steamed dishes, chicken casseroles etc) older vintages are best. Choose older cheeses, with a dry rind or excellent with grilled steak and all red meat dishes.
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