Are you ready for the best deal on old-school Bordeaux that we’ve offered all year?!? We’re not big on holiday sales gimmicks, so instead we have an authentic value proposition: A family owned Château that’s been in that same family since 1740; the more recent involvement of the Borie clan (Bordeaux “royalty”) by marriage; vines that are situated on unique terroir near the edges of the famous Médoc region; and six plus years of aging which has this beauty entering its peak drinking window now. Of course a classic “claret” that is handmade with care and craftsmanship like this will age gracefully for another five to ten years–and the best news is that it's priced so you can grab it by the case and watch its evolution without spending a fortune. This is easily one of the smartest “holiday buys” out there, so don’t wait to start loading up your cart!
Château Ducluzeau is located in the commune of Listrac-Médoc, which sits at the edge of the larger Médoc region. Indeed the word “Listrac” translates to “limit” or “edge.” The property and most of the vines sit at about 150 feet above sea level, and are located just 15 miles from the Atlantic coast. The soils here are mostly limestone and clay with only a sprinkling of the gravel that is common throughout the Left Bank of Bordeaux. This marks a departure from the dominant climate and terroir, and as such the estate has always focused on Merlot instead of Cabernet Sauvignon, and indeed you could say that its wines have as much in common with Pomerol as they do nearby Pauillac.
Bruno Borie is intimately familiar with Listrac and its uniqueness, as the Château Ducluzeau has been in his mother’s family since 1740. Of course hardcore Bordeaux fans likely felt their ears perk up at the name “Borie,” and that is no mistake. Bruno’s father, Jean-Eugène Borie is an icon in Bordeaux, and the Borie family has been instrumental in the history of winemaking here for many generations. Today Bruno’s older brother, François-Xavier, and his children run the Château Puy-Lacoste, while Bruno’s “day job” is at the helm of Ducru-Beaucaillou–another world class winery with a very storied history. But the humble estate of Ducluzeau has a special place in Bruno’s heart since it was his mother’s childhood home and he spent a good portion of his childhood here as well.
Given the long history and tradition of both the Borie family and the proprietors of Ducluzeau (which, interestingly, have been mostly women for several generations, a rarity for the time and place), it’s not surprising that they produce an estate wine that far exceeds its humble appellation and even more humble price. Farming is meticulous and mostly by hand, and the work in the cellar is traditional and expertly guided. The 2018 vintage was fermented in temperature controlled tanks before being racked into high quality French oak barriques–20% new and 80% second year–for 12 months of elevage.
The influence of the Atlantic combined with limestone influenced Merlot to produce a wine that is both deep and richly textured, but also full of savory minerals. It’s got all the pedigree of the much famous (and much, much more expensive) Châteaux in its family, so definitely give it the star treatment. Serve at cellar temperature in large Bordeaux stems after a vigorous decant of 30 plus minutes. In the glass the almost opaque violet hue will turn to a shimmering ruby at the rim, and the classic aromas of plum skin, black currant, cherry liqueur, cedar, cigar box, graphite, and wild mint will lead to a medium-full body that has a beautifully textured palate and a long, sea salt inflected finish. It’s a classic wine, so serve with a classic roast or braise through the fall and winter months, but hopefully you have plenty on hand of grilled lamb or sausages in the spring and summer. Clearly, this is a wine that you should buy by the case or cases!
