Some wine releases transcend the idea of a bottle. They become objects of art, history and rarity combined.
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1982 – Le “Beau Caillou” Alabaster Stone is one of those exceptional creations.
This is not only one of Bordeaux’s most legendary vintages, but also a three-litre double magnum, encased in a hand-crafted alabaster stone sculpture, created by the renowned artist Atelier Alain Ellouz. With only 33 complete sets produced worldwide, this release exists at the absolute intersection of fine wine, sculpture and collectible design.
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou and the legendary 1982 vintage
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of the great names of Saint-Julien, classified as a Second Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. The estate is celebrated for its gravel-rich terroir (“beau caillou” literally means beautiful stones), which produces wines of remarkable structure, elegance and longevity.
The 1982 vintage is widely regarded as one of the most important Bordeaux vintages of the 20th century. It marked a turning point in modern wine appreciation, producing wines of extraordinary ripeness, balance and ageing potential. Ducru-Beaucaillou 1982 is considered one of the standout successes of that historic year, still offering depth, harmony and refinement decades later.
Double magnum: scale, presence and ageing perfection
Presented in a three-litre double magnum, this wine gains an additional dimension. Large formats age more slowly and more gracefully, preserving freshness and complexity over time. In this format, the 1982 Ducru-Beaucaillou becomes not only rarer, but also one of the most stable and impressive expressions of the vintage.
A bottle of this size already commands attention. Encased in sculpture, it becomes something else entirely.
“Le Beau Caillou”: alabaster stone as a tribute to terroir
The name Le Beau Caillou is no coincidence. It refers both to the château’s gravel soils and to the alabaster stone sculpture that surrounds the bottle.
Each sculpture is hand-crafted from natural alabaster stone by Atelier Alain Ellouz, a studio internationally respected for working with light, stone and architectural forms. No two pieces are exactly the same. The soft translucency of alabaster gives the sculpture a quiet, almost glowing presence, turning the wine into a sculptural object rather than simple packaging.
This is not decoration for effect — it is a conceptual tribute to the terroir, the stone, and the passage of time.
Only 33 sets worldwide
Only 33 complete sets of this release were produced globally. That scarcity places it firmly in museum-level territory, appealing to:
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serious wine collectors
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Bordeaux connoisseurs
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art and design collectors
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buyers of ultra-exclusive statement pieces
Every element — the vintage, the format, the sculpture and the limited production — contributes to its rarity.
A complete set, available from stock
We are pleased to offer this Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1982 – Le “Beau Caillou” Alabaster Stone as a complete set, available directly from stock.
Whether acquired as a centrepiece for a world-class collection, a legacy purchase, or a once-in-a-lifetime gift, this is a release that very few will ever encounter — let alone own.
