Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou 2023 is the third wine of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, the Saint‑Julien Second Growth owned by the Borie family. Drawn from the estate’s vineyards, it’s positioned as an accessible entry to the house style, while still benefiting from the same serious selection and élevage approach used across the range.
Critics agree on the wine’s aromatic clarity and graphite-tinged Médoc character. James Suckling (93 points) calls it “very pretty” in density, with “blackcurrant and lead pencil… graphite, too,” describing a “medium-bodied, balanced and savory” palate with a “solid finish.” That 93-point review is one of the wine’s top endorsements and underscores how well the 2023 has landed at this level.
Vinous’ Neal Martin (92 points) highlights a more lifted, perfumed register, citing a “seductive bouquet with pure red fruit, incense and light cedar scents,” plus “a slight minty element emerging with time.” On the palate, he notes “crunchy black fruit and fine structure,” finishing with “more fruit concentration… Very promising.”
Spice and vintage signatures come through strongly in Jane Anson’s note (90 points), which describes a “plush and fragrant opening,” alongside “deep black pepper, capsicum and turmeric spice,” with “fresh slate and graphite set against cassis fruits.”
Decanter (91 points) emphasizes its immediate appeal—“perfumed and open… blueberries, blue cherries”—but frames it as structured rather than plush: “straight and focused… well constructed,” finishing with “high acidity.” Decanter also reports technical details of 12 months’ ageing with 30% new oak, alongside “89 IPT, 3.73pH.”
Blend reporting varies slightly by source: Suckling cites 72% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Petit Verdot, while Jeb Dunnuck (91 points) reports 62% Merlot with the same Cabernet proportion and the balance Petit Verdot. Dunnuck also points to “another level of finesse as well as density,” with “sweet tannins and outstanding length,” suggesting a confident drinking window of 2026–2038.
