Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien 2e Cru Classé 1985

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Born at the end of the 17th century, the estate quickly demonstrated its ability to produce great wines. When a century later, mildew wiped out many Bordeaux vineyards, Ducru Beaucaillou managed to survive thanks to a brand new remedy discovered by the castle manager himself: the famous Bordeaux mixture, a mixture of copper sulfate and lime, still used today. On the other hand, the estate suffered greatly from the period of prohibition across the Atlantic which deprived it of its fervent American fans. In 1941, Ducru Beaucaillou was bought by Francis Borie, who renovated the cellars and replanted the vines. Today, the château is still masterfully managed by the Borie family, who work to maintain the exceptional quality of production. The considerable presence of gravel – or pebbles – in the soil of the vineyard, the origin of the name of the cru, is far from unrelated to the quality of the wine. Perfectly balanced, this reveals a beautiful aromatic bouquet, enhanced by cedar wood and spices. Singularly slow to evolve, it requires at least ten years to express all its finesse and complexity.