Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou 2020 vs La Mondotte, St Emilion, Bordeaux 2022

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Le Petit Ducru de Ducru-Beaucaillou 2020

The 2020 Le Petit Ducru is a classy claret with real depth and charm, full of dark berry fruit, well-balanced acidity and suave tannins. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot (with a touch of Petit Verdot in some vintages), it’s aged for 12 months in oak (one-third new), and made with the same rigorous attention to detail as the estate’s grands vins. This is the newest member of the Ducru-Beaucaillou family — a beautifully crafted introduction to the estate's signature style. Sourced from Ducru-Beaucaillou’s vineyards in Saint-Julien, the 2020 it offers a glimpse into the elegance, structure, and elan that define its elder siblings, Ducru-Beaucaillou and La Croix. In short, it’s a seriously good bottle for fans of classic Bordeaux — with all the hallmarks of Ducru, just in a more accessible and earlier-drinking package.