Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2010
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2010 is one of the oldest Bordeaux wine producing estates in the Medoc. History dates what we know of as Ducru Beaucaillou all the back to the start of the 13th century. As a working Bordeaux vineyard in Saint Julien, the Bergeron family was in charge the chateau from 1720.
Bertrand Ducru purchased the estate in 1795. He added his name to the winery which quickly earned fame under the name of Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou. The owner was not done yet. Ducru Beaucaillou hired the well known Parisian architect, Paul Abadie to create a special chateau on the property.
Paul Abadie took the current design they were already using and added a second story to the chateau which became the now famous looking facade we enjoy today. They also upgraded the vineyards and built a new, barrel aging cellar.
Nathaniel Johnston knew what was needed at Ducru Beaucaillou. Johnston replanted the vineyards and modernized the cellars with the aid of Ernest David, the manager of the Left Bank estate.
Following more than seven decades at the helm of Ducru Beaucaillou, they sold the Saint Julien property to Lucie Caroline Dassier in 1866 for one million Francs. Keep in mind, at the time, one million French Francs was a lot of money! Dassier was the wife of the famous Bordeaux wine merchant, negociant Nathaniel Johnston.
Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou is at the top of their game these days. The wines produced today offer intense concentration of flavors, ripe tannins, supple textures, purity of fruit, the structure to age and a unique sense of harmony, that is only found in the best Bordeaux wines.
There is density, complexity and a uniqueness of character. 2009 and 2010 Ducru Beaucaillou are the finest examples I’ve ever tasted from this property. They are candidates for legendary status in the history of Ducru Beaucaillou.
