Critic Ratings & Tasting Notes
Yves Beck – (100/100)
“Majestic, the bouquet of Ducru-Beaucaillou opens only onto delightful prospects. It even calls for indulgence in a complex and imposing context, with nuances of sweet spices, licorice, and cocoa beans, complemented by wafts of red fruits, ripe black berries, cedar, and graphite. Everything is very coherent, nothing dominates—except the pleasure! The palate feel only confirms the aromatic promises. The wine is dense, deep, and supported by slightly suave tannins that confer power and energy. A very fine austerity reinforces the wine’s energetic side and thus forges the link between temperament, indulgence, and power. This is a truly great Ducru-Beaucaillou that joins the extraordinary 2016, 2019, and 2020… among others! It is elegant, charming, powerful, persistent, and, of course, refined and harmonious! What an endless finish and what energy; the performance is high and consistent, from bouquet through the finish. Now it’s time to wait. The wine has many decades ahead of it, but it will be interesting to taste it regularly… you’ll just need to have enough 🙂”
Jeff Leve – The Wine Cellar Insider (100/100)
“Inky dark in color, the wine exudes blackberries, smoke, currants, nutmeg, flowers, Cuban cigar wrapper, black cherries, smoke, and spice in the nose. On the palate, the wine is dense, and intense, yet light on its feet with seemingly, endless waves of deep, black and red, spicy fruits. There is symmetry, balance, and freshness on the palate. The tannins are present, silky, and refined. The wine is silky, supple, creamy, and seamless in the finish, which moves from black fruits, to red fruits and back to black fruits with spice, and accents of mint and a touch of citrus at the very end of the finish, which lingers for at least 60 seconds. Ducru Beaucaillou has been on an unstoppable roll since 2009. Produced from blending 81% Cabernet Sauvignon and 19% Merlot, 14% ABV, 3.8 pH. Picking took place September 7 — October 4. Drink from 2028-2065.”
James Suckling – (98/100)
“A great, powerful and proportional Ducru with everything in the right place. The aromas and flavors are very precise and beautiful with blackberry, raspberry and citrus undertones. Full-bodied and structured, it has polished electric tannins that are finely layered, well formed and very long. Remains cool on the palate. 82% cabernet sauvignon and 18% merlot. Drink after 2029 but will age beautifully.”
Falstaff – (98/100)
“Deep dark ruby in colour with an inky, opaque core, purple reflections, and subtle brightening on the rim. On the nose, delicate nuances of fine oak, ripe black cherry, currants, sweet spices, candied orange zest and nougat. The full-bodied, elegant palate has good freshness, with pronounced integrated tannins, fine fruit expression and notes of dark wild berries and nougat on the lengthy, mineral finish. Certain potential for future ageing for many years.”
The freshness and fruity framework of a Saint-Julien red wine
The estate
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, the emblematic Cru Classé of Saint-Julien, oversees a prestigious terroir. Over the last 300 years, six families have worked together to ensure that this Cru, with its unrivalled worldwide reputation, continues to shine. Owned by the Borie family since 1941, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou takes its name from its “beautiful pebbles” (beau caillou) terroir of Günzian gravel. Managed by Bruno Borie, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou ranks among the elite of Saint-Julien’s great red wines. Vintage after vintage, its wines delight lovers of fine Médoc wines the world over.
The vineyard
What makes Château Ducru-Beaucaillou so special is the exceptional quality of its vineyards. The vines are planted on soils of Günzian and Pyrenean gravel deposited by the Gironde estuary almost two million years ago. These poor soils produce exceptional Saint-Julien wines.
The vintage
There was a lot of rainfall during the winter, allowing the water reserves in the soil to be replenished. Spring and summer were characterised by drought and intense heat. The high temperatures in May were conducive to early and rapid flowering and fruit set. Hot, dry conditions in August slowed down veraison, but were counterbalanced by rains which helped the vineyards and boosted ripening.
Winemaking and ageing
La fermentation a lieu en cuves bois coniques à la pointe de la technologie. Remontages automatiques et doux pouvant être fractionnés sur 24 heures. L’élevage est d’une durée de 18 mois.
Blend
Cabernet Sauvignon (82%)
Merlot (18%)
