Bordeaux Collectors Rejoice—Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Hosts Its First Public Auction

Fans and collectors of Bordeaux wine will already know the name Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. The family-owned winery’s legacy spans over 300 years and today includes a vast estate with over 250 acres of vineyards and a 12-acre park laid out on three successive terraces. At the heart of the property is the original chateau (first built in the 1820s and later extended at the end of the 19th century), which now houses great works of art from the likes of Keith Haring, Carl André, Christian Boltanski, Annette Messager, Claude Viallat, Jean-Pierre Raynaud, and Jean-Marc Bustamante. These iconic pieces are acquired due to Bruno-Eugène Borie, who has owned and operated the business since 2003. This sets the stage for the historic château’s first-ever public auction held in the cellars on the lustrous property. 

When you have such an immense heritage like Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, it can be challenging to shape and document new history—the responsibility to maintain a legacy that resonates with future generations is a heavy one. In 2020, the fêted winery quietly rang in the monumental 300^th anniversary of the property, knowing the milestone had to be properly commemorated once the world re-opened. That moment has arrived. This Sunday, June 23, the winery will add another historic moment to its enduring legacy with its first public auction, offering over 600 lots featuring 60 vintages that have previously never left the château.

Right on the estate in Saint-Julien, enthusiasts and collectors will gather to celebrate one of the most prized winemakers in the Bordeaux region. What makes Château Ducru-Beaucaillou and its wines so special begins with the location and the unique terrain infused into each bottle that leaves the property. The château’s name, “Beaucaillou,” refers to the Günzian gravel found in the soil. Here, the vineyards are planted mainly with Cabernet Sauvignon at the top and in the middle of the slopes, while those at the foot of the slopes are planted with Merlot. All of this overlooks the banks of the Gironde estuary, which makes for a beautiful setting and influences the resulting wine depending on where the grapes are planted throughout the vast property. The nuances are beautifully illustrated through four offerings from the brand hailing from the same year, each sourcing grapes from different areas of the estate. A few distinct examples of this are the 2019 Madame de Beaucaillou, Le Petit Decru de Ducru-Beaucaillou, La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, and the signature Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. 

For the upcoming sale, the château has partnered with one of the leaders in rare wine auctions, Baghera/wines. However, it was essential for Château Ducru-Beaucaillou to host the auction on its grounds, marking Baghera/wines’ first auction live on a property. “Of course, having the sale take place on-site allows us to make this occasion about more than just the auction itself,” shares Borie. “Surrounding the event, we can offer tastings for our VIP collectors from around the globe. But more importantly, it allows us to remain faithful and loyal to our region.”

In the spirit of honoring the region’s rich heritage and Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Borie was faced with a monumental task: selecting lots from a vast inventory spanning three centuries. Here, he enlisted the help of his team and the experts at Baghera/wines to curate an exceptional selection that reflects the winery’s 300-year history and his 21 years at the helm of the brand. “It was quite exciting to delve into the castle’s cellars and unearth some of the most legendary vintages we’ve ever produced,” explains Borie. “This includes some that are very old dating back to the earliest days of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou’s existence as well as very rare formats, including Salmanazars (9L), Balthazars (12L), Nebuchadnezzars (15L), Melchiors (18L) and Babyloniums (27L), as well as 2 x 225L barrels of wines in the process of maturing from the 2022 and 2023 vintages.”

Some of the top lots include the Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1985 Melchior with an estimate of $12,000-$24,000, the Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1959 Magnum with an estimate of $15,000-$30,000, and the Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2022 barrel with an estimate of $45,000–$90,000. However, according to Borie, each of the 603 lots has a particular significance. “We believe everyone will find something special at this auction,” he asserts. “From the imperial of our second wine La Croix Beaucaillou, dressed and signed by Jade Jagger on the delightful 2009 vintage, to the iconic bottle of Ducru Beaucaillou 1887, which is one of the very last from our private cellars, to the gigantic 1961 vintage and even the entire barrel of 2023, we really tried to create a selection for each of our collectors whether they just want an exceptional bottle or to mark the birth year of their spouse, their children, themself or even the year of their marriage or the founding of their company.”

Each bottle to be showcased at the upcoming auction comes directly from the château’s historic cellars and has been impeccably conserved. This means that in addition to perfect traceability, the wines have been kept in optimal condition, which is vital, especially for the oldest vintages. Special packaging has also been designed for this historic occasion, marking an exciting moment for true connoisseurs of Ducru-Beaucaillou.

Ducru-Beaucaillou’s packaging is the brand’s core, from the trademark imperial yellow. The current label dates back to the late 18th century and serves as a great symbol of the Médoc region. It was originally created by the château owner at the time, Nathaniel Johnston IV. In his second marriage to Princess Marie de Caradja, a native of Constantinople, the princess became heavily involved in the enhancement of the estate. Château Ducru-Beaucaillou’s history writes that she and her heritage inspired the oriental tones (imperial yellow bordered with a gold frame) of the distinctive label.