Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Madame de Beaucaillou 2022

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of Saint-Julien's historic estates, with over three centuries of records in the Médoc. Madame de Beaucaillou is its second wine, named for the women who shaped the property, blended from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot. The vineyards sit on the deep gravel banks that give the Médoc its drainage and warmth; the stony soils force the roots down and reflect heat back into the canopy, ripening Cabernet fully while the Gironde estuary moderates the climate and lengthens the growing season. The wine spends 18 months in oak barrels, where slow oxygen exchange through the staves softens the tannins and adds cedar and sweet spice, while the Petit Verdot lends colour and structure. Expect a deep ruby colour and a nose of dark plum, blackcurrant and cedar over tobacco and a savoury earthiness. The palate is concentrated and firmly structured, with fine gravelly tannins and a long finish. Serve at 17 to 18 degrees and decant an hour ahead. It suits roast lamb, rib of beef and aged hard cheeses.