Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2015 (RP:97)

波爾多超級二級酒莊，酒莊的名稱意即「美麗的礫石」，一向以風格優雅細緻，高雅的氣質著稱。全球最權威酒評家 Robert Parker 評為五大酒莊水準，比擬 Chateau Latour 拉圖堡、Chateau Mouton 木桐堡等。但價位只要五大酒莊的一半不到，故成為收藏家瘋狂追逐的標的。

Ducru-Beaucaillou酒莊由 Boire 柏利家族於1941年時買入，柏利是個酒業世家，除 Ducru-Beaucaillou 外，還擁有包括 Batailley 等多家波爾多名園。自 1953 年起家族就聘請被譽為全法國最偉大釀酒師之一的 Emile Peynaud 長期擔任釀酒顧問，也成就 Ducru-Beaucaillou 成為二等頂級酒莊中的翹楚。

Ducru-Beaucaillou 目前持有約五十公頃的葡萄園，由本園名為 Beaucaillou 可得知園中多大礫石，可保溫也利於排水。葡萄數平均年齡38歲，以Cabernet Sauvignon 65% 最多、其次是Merlot 25%、Cabernet Franc 5% 與Petit Verdot 5%。Ducru-Beaucaillou 採傳統釀酒方法，對葡萄品質要求極為嚴格，初釀在六成新法國橡木桶中醇化18-20個月。

Ducru-Beaucaillou 酒性溫和，但並不淡，年輕時十分順口，擁有成熟濃郁的酒香以及溫柔的細膩等個性；但她真正的特質，卻必須等到至少十年後才會完全顯露出來，散發出果香與勁頭混合的氣息。

產區保護條例：
波爾多 AOC Saint Julien (Grand Cru Classé)

產地：
法國波爾多

種類：
紅葡萄酒

葡萄品種：
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot 

品酒筆記：
2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou 呈中至深色的紫紅色，香氣帶有朱古力醬車厘子、新鮮黑加侖子、碎藍莓、附帶有雪茄盒氣息的甘草、玫瑰和紫羅蘭，還附有黑胡椒和橄欖醬的味道。 中至厚酒體，豐富而撩人，具有大量誘人的層次，堅實、天鵝絨般的單寧，非常長且多層的結尾。

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".

Appellation:
AOC Saint Julien (Grand Cru Classé), Bordeaux

Country of Origin:
Bordeaux, France

Type:
Red/Rouge (Still)

Grape Varieties:
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot

Tasting Notes:
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is provocatively and profoundly scented of chocolate-covered cherries, fresh black currants, crushed blueberries and licorice with touches of cigar box, roses and violets plus hints of black pepper and tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, rich and sultry with tons of seductive layers and firm, wonderfully velvety tannins, it has a very long, multilayered finish.