In French, "beaucaillou" literally translates to "beautiful stones," which are what mark the terroir at this St. Julien estate. These stones, which can be up to 2.5" inches in length, stretch deep beneath the earth's surface providing excellent drainage and aeration for the vines at Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou.

Slightly younger than the 2 million year old "beaucaillau" is the estate itself, which dates back to a mere 1795. It was then that Bertrand Ducru stamped his name on the property and set the winemaking standard for years to come.

A decade after its classification as a Second Growth in 1855, the Johnston family acquired the property, and it was under their tutelage, specifically that of manager Ernest David, that the famous "Bordeaux mixture"--a blend of copper sulphate and lime used to deter mildew--was discovered. A third family, the Borie's, bought the estate in 1941 and currently inhabit the chateau--a rarity in this age of corporate ownership. They are known for producing a wonderfully fragrant, heavily Cabernet-influenced wine with superb cellaring potential, the best vintages offering dramatic perfume of black fruits, cedar, coconut and flowers.