Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is named after the ancient quartz pebbles which line the vineyards (Beaux Cailloux) and is classed as one of the leading wines in St-Julien. It has been owned by the Borie family since 1941, but its wine growing prowess extends back over 300 years. It was Bertrand Ducru, who ran the estate in 1797, who completed its name as we know it today and in the late 1800s, it was the most expensive wine in St-Julien. This helped with its Second Growth classification in 1855 and Ducru-Beaucaillou continues to be a highly prized wine. The Borie family, headed today by Bruno Borie, have ensured a continued program of investment in the vineyards, starting a ten-year sustainability plan and modernising the winery. The 50 hectares of vineyards which surround the beautifully manicured estate consist mostly of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot and the wines spend at least 18 months in new oak barrels. There is also a second wine which comes from a specific terroir, La Croix de Beaucaillou.