Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou is named after the beautiful large stones that characterize its unique Saint-Julien terroir. Unusual for Bordeaux, it is one of the only castles to be built directly above the barrel cellars and one of the few estates producing a ‘Grand Cru Classe’ still inhabited by its owners. The Borie family has owned this estate and has lived here for over sixty years, in the sumptuous aromas of their wine.

Rated a second growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, Ducru sits on an exceptional site with incomparable views over the Gironde estuary. Its 75-hectare vineyard is planted 70% to Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% to Merlot with an average vine age of 35 years.

Today, the estate is managed by the company Jean Eugene Borie SA, which is owned by Mrs. Borie, her daughter Sabine Coiffe and her son Bruno-Eugene.

Ducru-Beaucaillou is a fine, elegant, and delicious wine with a long finish - in short, an archetypal Saint-Julien. The grapes are hand-picked, and the sorting process takes place on mobile tables in the vineyard to keep the healthy grapes separate from substandard ones. Fermentation is by traditional techniques and only the best fruit is used to produce the wine.

The 2022 Ducru Beaucaillou is a Bordeaux Blend from the renowned St Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This vintage, produced by Ducru Beaucaillou, is predominantly composed of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot, and is sealed with a traditional cork closure. The wine is noted for its deep garnet-purple color and complex profile, showcasing the expertise of the producer.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate describes this wine as "one of the Médoc's most powerful wines this year," highlighting its aromas of dark cherries, berries, pencil shavings, vanilla pod, and spices. William Kelley, who reviewed the wine, gave it a score of 94-96 points, praising its full-bodied, muscular structure and lively fruit core.

James Suckling awarded the 2022 Ducru Beaucaillou an impressive 97-98 points, emphasizing its "creme de cassis and blackcurrant aromas and flavors." He notes the wine's powerful tannins and excellent length, describing it as "minerally and crushed stone."

Jeff Leve, from The Wine Cellar Insider, gave the highest score of 98-100 points, calling the wine "dense and intense, yet light on its feet." He lauds its balance, freshness, and the seamless transition of flavors from black to red fruits, complemented by spice and a touch of citrus. Leve also mentions the wine's aging potential, suggesting it will be best enjoyed from 2028 to 2065.

Jeb Dunnuck, who scored the wine 97-99 points, highlights its "sensational aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and sandalwood." He commends its full-bodied richness, silky tannins, and great finish, noting its potential for both short-term cellaring and long-term evolution.

Jane Anson, giving the wine a 98-point score, describes it as "poised and intense," with powerful tannins and flavors of crushed mint, graphite, and bitter black chocolate. She praises its careful construction and predicts it has decades ahead of it.

Vinous' Neal Martin, awarding 95-97 points, emphasizes the wine's dense and muscular nature, with a "Pauillac-like presence" and a finish that feels "saline, almost briny."

Decanter also gave a score of 97 points, highlighting its "beautiful and beguiling nose" and "crystalline purity to the fruit." They describe it as "charming and confident," with excellent definition and skilled winemaking on display.

Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss, with a score of 96-98 points, calls the wine "velvet on the surface" with balanced density, concentration, and superb acidity. He notes its long-term potential.

Lastly, The Wine Independent's Lisa Perrotti-Brown, scoring it 97-99 points, describes the wine as having "powerful notes of blackcurrant cordial, boysenberry preserves, and licorice," with a rich, firm palate and an epic length and purity.

Overall, the 2022 Ducru Beaucaillou is a highly regarded wine with consistent praise across reviews for its powerful structure, complex flavors, and excellent aging potential.