Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2024

Characteristics and Tasting Advice for Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2024

Tasting

Nose
The bouquet reveals remarkable finesse with violet aromas merging harmoniously with pure black fruits, notably blackcurrant and blackberry. This palette is enriched by notes of star anise, sandalwood and graphite, which bring a distinctive mineral dimension.

Palate
The attack reveals remarkable concentration and fruit depth, perfectly balanced by vibrant freshness. Extremely fine tannins structure the whole with elegance, creating a dynamic tension characteristic of this vintage. The long, fragrant finish expresses notes of crème de cassis and persistent minerality, leaving an impression of finesse and graceful elegance.

An Exceptional Saint-Julien Ideally Combining Finesse and Power

The estate
Acquired by Bertrand Ducru in 1797, the Château Ducru-Beaucaillou extends over 105 hectares of deep gravel scattered with the emblematic large pebbles of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle in the Médoc bordelais. The Borie family has owned the estate since 1941, when Francis Borie acquired it. This 2nd Grand Cru Classé 1855 is now managed by Bruno-Eugène Borie, who continues the estate's tradition of excellence. The Victorian château overlooking the cellars has produced three distinct cuvées since its restructuring.

The vineyard
The vines of this Saint-Julien flourish on an exceptional terroir composed of Gunz gravel, those quartz pebbles formed two million years ago that give the wine its characteristic minerality. These well-drained soils allow for optimal grape ripening and impart the domain’s wines with their unique mineral signature.

The vintage
The year 2024 began with a mild, wet winter that fostered early bud break on March 25. A rainy spring required meticulous vineyard management to combat mildew pressure. Flowering took place around June 6, slightly delayed by cool temperatures. The summer ideal for ripening featured warm, dry conditions with significant diurnal temperature swings, creating a beneficial water deficit for phenolic development. Veraison began slowly around July 20, punctuated by two short heatwaves, while cool nights intensified color and aromas. Sugar accumulation remained moderate and acidity high, preserving balance and freshness.

Winemaking and aging
The harvest for Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2024 took place from September 23 to October 7. Despite 136 mm of rain in September increasing the risk of botrytis, late September and October offered dry, stable conditions for optimal ripening. Merlot was picked early to preserve its integrity, while Cabernet Sauvignon benefited from the late warmth to reach full, refined maturity. The plot-by-plot harvest revealed pure fruit with tension and excellent aging potential. Aging was carried out over 18 months.

Blend
86% Cabernet Sauvignon and 14% Merlot.