Grand Cru Classé (2009)

About this wine

The 2009 Ducru Beaucaillou is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon with roughly eighty five percent of the blend and the remainder Merlot, which gives it dark fruit concentration and structure. On the nose you will find intense blackcurrant and blueberry fruit with graphite, cedar and violet aromatics that come through with air. The palate is full and lush, with plush texture and dense yet refined tannins that give the wine a long, persistent finish. The wine spent extended time in new oak during élevage, which adds subtle spice and cedar framing to the fruit. This vintage was widely praised for its depth and longevity, and it typically needs time in bottle to settle while retaining freshness from the Saint Julien gravel soils.

About the grape

Cabernet Sauvignon has been the dominant vine at Ducru Beaucaillou and in the 2009 grand vin it represents the large majority of the blend, coming from old vines planted on the estate gravel ridges where deep root systems seek water and minerals, planted at high densities to reduce vigor and concentrate flavors. Merlot is planted on the cooler, slightly heavier pockets of soil and in 2009 it made up a smaller component of the blend, chosen for its ability to bring suppleness and earlier ripening to balance the Cabernet, with many parcels picked by hand and sorted separately. In the cellar both varieties are handled parcel by parcel to preserve their distinct structure, and most lots see careful aging in French oak so the firm tannic framework of Cabernet and the roundness of Merlot are kept distinct during maturation.

Quick facts

• 🏆 The 2009 Ducru‑Beaucaillou received a rare perfect 100-point score from critic Jeb Dunnuck, cementing its reputation as a blockbuster of the vintage.
• 🪨 The château’s name means “beautiful pebbles,” and the 2009 is often cited as a textbook expression of the deep Günz gravel soils that give Ducru its signature mineral lift.
• 🪵 Reports from the estate show the 2009 was aged with an unusually high proportion of new oak (reported as near 100% in some notes), which helped create its dense, chocolate-and-spice profile.
• 📅 Ducru’s 2009 harvest ran from September 23 to October 9, a relatively late, extended picking window that contributed to the wine’s gorgeously ripe yet balanced fruit.
• 🏰 The château’s cellars sit directly beneath the building, so the 2009 literally matured “under the house” — a quirky detail collectors love when imagining where the wine developed its aromas.

Palate profile

Producer

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, located in the Saint-Julien appellation of Bordeaux, France, traces its origins to the 13th century. The estate was named after Bertrand Ducru, who acquired it in 1795 and added his surname to 'Beaucaillou,' meaning 'beautiful stones,' a nod to the unique gravelly terroir. In 1855, the château was classified as a Second Growth in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification. The Borie family has owned the estate since 1941, with Bruno Borie currently at the helm, overseeing the production of wines renowned for their elegance and longevity.