Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou 1982 - Le "Beau Caillou" Alabaster Stone

Alabaster. Translucent, moon-white beauty. Original purity.
Tenderness epitomised in stone. Sculpted by man since ancient Egyptian times, the first sumptuous vases held a certain fascination for French artist and sculp- tor Auguste Rodin who collected them with frenzy. Then, there is the precious flask of anointing oil that Mary of Bethany broke to honour Jesus of Nazareth. Not least, of course, the famed ‘Alabaster Coast’ – albeit chalk – yet a veritable Eden to inspire impressionists including Monet, Courbet, Renoir, Pissarro and Bonnard. Magnificent paintings capturing the essence of 19th century joie de vivre, featuring pastoral scenes of drinking from extremely precious flasks, amid elegant, joyful and fine company. The latest chapter in this long narrative, alabaster now assumes its rightful place in contemporary architecture and in the exclusive world of luxury interior design.

French artist Alain Ellouz can lay claim to having changed the destiny of alabaster, once considered too brittle and porous. A born innovator, he has succeeded in making it even more resistant than granite. Like a wine reveals a great terroir, this veritable master craftsman has revealed the stone in dazzling display, through fascinating lighting installations and furniture, with the emphasis on sleek mi- nimalism transcended by light. For according to Ellouz, alabaster without light is like a world without music. His pieces are now recognised the world over, acclaimed by the most revered design luminaries. The ascent of alabaster can be likened to that of the local Gunz gravel deposited on the slopes of Saint-Julien during the quaternary period, from which Denis Lalanne drew inspiration for his poetic verse. This other ‘beau caillou’, meaning ‘beautiful stone’, and from which the château derives its name, reveals the true expres- sion of the vine unlike any other soil, capable of reflecting the sunlight under the plant’s canopy and preventing evaporation, and retaining the heat of the day and slowly releasing it back during the night. Here in this magnificent stone, assisted by man’s intervention until the grapes reach optimum ripeness, Cabernet Sauvignon, the Medoc’s majestic grape variety, is seen to thrives. In the beginning, there was the material.

Beyond an exclusive casing:
A unique casing for a unique wine. A colossal jewel. A tribute to the origins and the founding element; a precious, time-defying sarcophagus, reflective of both a wine and a vintage – château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1982 – forever engraved in the passage of time. The depth of its light imbues an air of fantasy.

The vibrational delicacy of the alabaster resonates amid the serene, calming atmosphere of the cellars. The outer casing opens to reveal a generous double magnum. An ode to pleasure shared. The ‘alabaster stone’ series offers a new aesthetic interpretation. An allegory to the primary force of the earth, this ‘beau- tiful stone’ tells a unique tale of passion and patience, expressed through this precious material.

Each piece is unique, displaying endless nuances and subtleties drawn from the mineral and plant elements of the soils, transcended by light. The hallmark of Atelier Alain Ellouz, the alabaster stone provides a dramatic contrast between material mass and minimalist design. The artisan craftsmanship is a persistent revelation of the unstinting selection of materials, artistic precision and quality of execution. To the touch, highly polished silky finish evokes the cashmere texture of a Grand Vin. A dazzling design statement, the stone is also the epitome of innovation, an extraordinary blend of two creative collaborations, two incredible exemplars of skilled mastery, in the great tradition of French artisan craftsmanship. In essence, a sensual material manifestation of all that Château Ducru-Beaucaillou strives for: uncompromising powerful, pure elegance and perfect harmony.

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1982:
Beautiful ruby color with a rich amber rim. Stunningly deep and complex bouquet leading with dried rose petals and a wisp of cedary herbs, followed by a core of sweet fruit liqueurs and a hint of liquorice. With aeration, Havanna cigar smoke, wild mushrooms and oiled leather notes unfurl.

Medium to full bodied with impressive concentration of sweet fruits, seamless integration of cashmere- textured tannins and vibrant freshness bringing focus to the flavours.
The finish is highly perfumed and nuanced with epic persistence.

The Alabaster Stone details:
Size in cm: 460 x 290 x 240
Material: Alabaster
Extra details: Cordless LED lighting system with battery dimmer-pack, USB rechargeable design
Made in France.

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate:
From my cellar, the 1982 Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of the most youthful of the Médoc crus classés today. Unwinding in the decanter and glass with a rich bouquet of blackcurrants, licorice, cigar wrapper and loamy soil, it's full-bodied, fleshy and muscular, with a broad attack that segues into a deep core of fruit framed by ripe, powdery tannins and succulent acids. It's an unusually big-boned rendition of this elegant-styled wine, but it's no less compelling for that: 96 Parker Points.
Reviewed by William Kelley from Robert Parker/Wine Advocate.

Only 33 bottles/sets have been made worldwide!

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