Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Celebrates 300 Years of WinemakingWinemaking in Bordeaux, France, dates back 2,000 years to Roman times when the first vineyards were established. The region’s wine gained international fame during the Middle Ages, thanks to the marriage of Henry Plantagenet and Eleanor of Aquitaine. This royal union introduced Bordeaux wine to Britain and beyond.
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, a historic Bordeaux winery, is celebrating its 300th anniversary. This landmark occasion offers a rare opportunity for the public to explore the rich heritage of French winemaking.
The Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2021 Saint-Julien 2e cru classé vintage is priced at $250 on an online wine seller’s site. The 2020 vintage, however, is listed at $1,584. The 2021 vintage, composed of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, is described as having a “pure and concentrated nose” with notes of crème de cassis, fresh violet, blackberry, and blueberry. Aeration reveals hints of exotic spices, cedar, cigar box, and smoked graphite.
The 300th-anniversary celebration will be held during the annual Harvest Festival on October 19th at the château. The event will honor a winery that has endured through significant historical events, including the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, World War I and II, and the 1976 Judgement of Paris, when American wines were compared favorably with French vintages.
Reaching a 300-year anniversary is a rare achievement, especially in America. While the U.S. marked the Bicentennial of the Declaration of Independence in 1976, few will be around to celebrate its 300th anniversary in 52 years.
