Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a property in the Saint-Julien appellation of the Médoc, rated a second growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. The 75-hectare (185-acre) vineyard is situated in the southeast of the appellation, near the village of Beychevelle and bordering Branaire-Ducru. It is near the river, which gives protection from frost and hail, and on the deepest gravel layers there is enhanced drainage, evening warmth, and a protective layer stopping the subsoil from drying out in heat waves. Alluvial deposits and a high clay content enrich the soil, and the vineyard takes its name from these "beautiful stones". It is planted 70 percent to Cabernet Sauvignon and 30 percent to Merlot.