Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a property in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Médoc, rated a second growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. It is often described as the quintessential Saint-Julien – deeply colored and powerfully ripe, yet balanced and harmonious. The grand vin usually needs 10 years of aging and can last for decades. A second wine, Croix de Beaucaillou, is also produced from the Ducru vineyard.
The 75-hectare (185-acre) vineyard is situated in the southeast of the appellation, near the village of Beychevelle and bordering Branaire-Ducru. It is near the river, which gives protection from frost and hail, and on the deepest gravel layers there is enhanced drainage, evening warmth, and a protective layer stopping the subsoil from drying out in heat waves. Alluvial deposits and a high clay content enrich the soil, and the vineyard takes its name from these "beautiful stones". It is planted 70 percent to Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 percent to Merlot.
