Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is 2ème Grand Cru Classé property in Saint Julien on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. The word “Beaucaillou” translates as "beautiful stones" because of the large pebbles which cover the soils of the estate. This property can trace its roots back to the C13th, making it one of Bordeaux’s most historic estates.
Bertrand Ducru purchased the estate in 1795. He added his name to the winery which quickly earned fame under the name of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. Successful Bordeaux wine merchant Francis Borie acquired the estate in 1941 (there is hope for us all!). Since 2003, Bruno Borie has been the proprietor and he is firmly in charge of everything that takes place here. Bruno is largely responsible for the recent stratospheric rise of this estate.
The 75 hectare Saint Julien vineyard is planted with a neatly proportioned 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, Bruno’s arrival was swiftly followed by a ruthless yet necessary reduction in yields, resulting in production dropping from 13,000 cases to 9,000 cases in his first vintage (2003) alone. The relentless quest to elevate what was already one of the region’s great wines to amongst the very best hasn’t ceased some 17 years later.
All manner of non-intrusive technology is employed at Ducru-Beaucaillou, from GPS and electrode growth-tracking to the introduction of laser-based sorting tables in the winery. All plots are, as is the case with most of the serious Bordeaux producers, vinified separately according to the fruit’s very individual needs. Aged almost entirely (90%+) in new oak, it is a testament to both the prowess of the Ducru team, aided by revered consultant Eric Boissenot, as well as the transcendent terroir that this wine remains so restrained, polished, pure and ultimately elegant.
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Decanter (93)
A clear step up in richness, polish and texture. 80% new oak at this point. In these kind of vintages though, it is noteworthy that you have to climb this high to really be assured of getting a bottle that impresses and that lives up to the expectations of the appellation and château. Lovely damson fruits here. Will be ready to drink earlier than the monumental 2016, but you are getting a slick, well defined wine with plenty of great fruit. There is an austerity at this point, in that you feel the tannins closing in towards the finish, but this is the one I would happily recommend.Inc. VAT£241.92 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
Just as it was en primeur, the 2018 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is rich, sensual and enveloping. Silky tannins wrap around a core of blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather. All the elements are so well balanced in this sumptuous, racy Saint-Julien. A warm growing season yielded small berries and heady, concentrated flavors. This is such a gorgeous wine. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.Inc. VAT£270.20 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94-96)
The 2019 La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou is endowed with a gorgeous, quite sumptuous bouquet loaded with black plum, tobacco, smoke and Earl Grey aromas that burst from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very pliant tannin, harmonious and velvety in texture, gradually building towards a detailed and mineral-driven finish. Maybe less opulent than the 2018 by comparison, yet a Deuxième Vin full of breeding.Inc. VAT£400.09 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94-96)
The 2019 La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou is endowed with a gorgeous, quite sumptuous bouquet loaded with black plum, tobacco, smoke and Earl Grey aromas that burst from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very pliant tannin, harmonious and velvety in texture, gradually building towards a detailed and mineral-driven finish. Maybe less opulent than the 2018 by comparison, yet a Deuxième Vin full of breeding.Inc. VAT£234.84 -
(3x75cl) 1961Wine Advocate (98)
Pale to medium brown-brick colored, the 1961 Ducru-Beaucaillou springs from the glass with notes of kirsch, raspberry preserves and dried mulberries plus wafts of sandalwood, menthol, aniseed and dried roses with a hint of black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with layers of dried red and black berries and tons of spice and floral sparks with a wonderfully plush texture and fantastically long, multilayered finish. A great bottle like this one satisfies all the style and quality expectations of a 1961, and then some.Inc. VAT£13,152.40 -
(1x75cl) 1962Inc. VAT£548.18 -
(1x150cl) 1966Wine Advocate (87)
A very flavorful wine now in full maturity, the 1966 Ducru-Beaucaillou defines such wine adjectives as elegant, graceful, and well-bred. Medium dark ruby with an amber edge, the bouquet is spicy, cedary, and subtly herbaceous. Velvety, round, medium-bodied flavors exhibit good concentration. Drink it over the next 5 years. Anticipated maturity: Now. Last tasted, 11/87.Inc. VAT£846.49 -
(1x600cl) 1982The Wine Cellar Insider (98)
One of the recently released bottles from Ducru Beaucaillou, which you can tell, as it sports the modern design, was about as good a bottle of 82 Ducru as you are ever going to have. Full-bodied, elegant, rich, multi-layered, and multi-faceted, the tobacco, cedar, currant, and wet forest profile on the nose was great. But the layers of ripe, lush, rich fruits with their silky, refined tannins stole the show. Popped and poured, perhaps 30 minutes or so would have improved the experience, but as the wine developed in the glass, we were more than happy.Inc. VAT£7,558.06 -
(3x75cl) 1982The Wine Cellar Insider (98)
One of the recently released bottles from Ducru Beaucaillou, which you can tell, as it sports the modern design, was about as good a bottle of 82 Ducru as you are ever going to have. Full-bodied, elegant, rich, multi-layered, and multi-faceted, the tobacco, cedar, currant, and wet forest profile on the nose was great. But the layers of ripe, lush, rich fruits with their silky, refined tannins stole the show. Popped and poured, perhaps 30 minutes or so would have improved the experience, but as the wine developed in the glass, we were more than happy.Inc. VAT£1,510.33 -
The Wine Cellar Insider (98)
One of the recently released bottles from Ducru Beaucaillou, which you can tell, as it sports the modern design, was about as good a bottle of 82 Ducru as you are ever going to have. Full-bodied, elegant, rich, multi-layered, and multi-faceted, the tobacco, cedar, currant, and wet forest profile on the nose was great. But the layers of ripe, lush, rich fruits with their silky, refined tannins stole the show. Popped and poured, perhaps 30 minutes or so would have improved the experience, but as the wine developed in the glass, we were more than happy.Inc. VAT£2,838.86 -
(12x75cl) 1986Wine Spectator (95)
A monster in its infancy. Almost black in color, with intense cassis, herb and mint aromas and superrich, dense cassis and licorice flavors. May last forever.--Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical. -TMInc. VAT£2,672.47 -
(1x75cl) 1986Wine Spectator (95)
A monster in its infancy. Almost black in color, with intense cassis, herb and mint aromas and superrich, dense cassis and licorice flavors. May last forever.--Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical. -TMInc. VAT£323.84 -
Wine Spectator (95)
A monster in its infancy. Almost black in color, with intense cassis, herb and mint aromas and superrich, dense cassis and licorice flavors. May last forever.--Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical. -TMInc. VAT£1,430.66 -
(12x75cl) 1988Wine Spectator (92)
Youthful and vigorous beneath a polished surface, offering beautifully modulated currant, blackberry and chocolate flavors that resonate on the finish. The tannins are not obtrusive, allowing the flavors to ring true. Should develop well with cellaring through 1996 to '98.Inc. VAT£2,389.38 -
Wine Spectator (92)
Youthful and vigorous beneath a polished surface, offering beautifully modulated currant, blackberry and chocolate flavors that resonate on the finish. The tannins are not obtrusive, allowing the flavors to ring true. Should develop well with cellaring through 1996 to '98.Inc. VAT£1,290.86 -
(1x75cl) 1989Wine Spectator (92)
Delivers lots of tanned leather and spices, with very ripe fruit, from dried strawberry to raisin, turning to jam. Full-bodied, offering a very fresh palate of exotic fruit, currant and raisin as well as silky and polished tannins. So long and beautiful. Why wait? But it has a long life ahead. There is a lot of bottle variation in this wine due to TCA issues, but this is a beauty.¿'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. -JSInc. VAT£299.84 -
(12x75cl) 1990Wine Spectator (89)
Tough and muscular, with loads of fruit hidden underneath the sharp tannins. A little clumsy now; needs time to mellow. Best after 1998. 17,000 cases made.Inc. VAT£3,601.27 -
(6x75cl) 1990Wine Spectator (89)
Tough and muscular, with loads of fruit hidden underneath the sharp tannins. A little clumsy now; needs time to mellow. Best after 1998. 17,000 cases made.Inc. VAT£1,348.84 -
Wine Advocate (90)
Ducru-Beaucaillou experienced an uncharacteristically shaky period between 1986 and 1990. The winemaking did not suffer, but the inconsistency from bottle to bottle (too many wines exhibited a musty, wet cardboard-like aroma), is history. The construction of a new cellar and replacement of every barrel has guaranteed the conditions necessary to produce trouble free wines. Ducru is on a roll, with fine efforts over recent vintages, including an exceptional 1994, spectacular 1995, and what looks to be an equally profound, super-concentrated 1996. A top-notch effort in this vintage, Ducru-Beaucaillou's 1994 displays a dark purple color, a textbook, cassis, mineral, licorice, and floral-scented nose, medium body, outstanding extract and purity, moderate tannin, and a persuasively rich, sweet, spicy finish. Everything is well-integrated (including the tannin). This should prove to be a classic St.-Julien. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2022.Inc. VAT£218.65 -
(1x600cl) 1995Vinous - Neal Martin (96)
The 1995 Ducru-Beaucaillou has a fabulous bouquet, complex and harmonious, very pure with scents of blackberry, cassis, violet and iris flower. It just blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with edgy tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Vibrant, deep and complex with gentle grip, it fans out wonderfully towards the finish. Outstanding. Tasted at the 1995 Bordeaux off-line at Piccolino in London and also Club Bâtard in Hong Kong.Inc. VAT£2,614.06 -
One of the oldest estates in the Medoc their wine structures very well to age, a characteristic of the best Bordeaux wines. The 1996 is full bodied with typical muscularity and good concentration. There is lots of ripe tannin but even more fruit presence.Inc. VAT£4,171.00 -
(1x75cl) 2000Wine Spectator (95-100)
Super, raspberry character, with violet and minerals. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins. The finish goes on for minutes. Like the Ducru 1995, Wine Spectator's 1998 Wine of the Year. Score range: 95-100Inc. VAT£299.60 -
James Suckling (97)
An incredible nose, with insane richness and notes of spices, leather, and sultanas. Full-bodied, with an amazing concentration of fruit and velvety tannins. A real blockbuster, lots of material here. Don't touch it for five years, pull the cork after 2015.Inc. VAT£1,435.69 -
(6x75cl) 2004Wine Advocate (93)
One can’t say enough about the efforts Bruno Borie is pouring into this wonderful estate that I have often called the “Lafite Rothschild of St.-Julien.” An undeniable success, the 2004 Ducru boasts sweet aromas of creme de cassis, spring flowers, pain grille, licorice, and road tar. This pure, medium-bodied wine possesses moderately high tannin, superb concentration, good sweetness, and low acidity. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25 years. Also tasted: 2004 Croix de Beaucaillou (88; $25.00)Inc. VAT£1,187.89 -
(12x75cl) 2006Inc. VAT£2,089.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.Inc. VAT£1,555.20 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.Inc. VAT£430.76 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.Inc. VAT£914.29 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Starting a duo of magical vintages, the 2009 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of those wines that always seems to deliver the goods. A normal blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that hit 13.5% natural alcohol, it has a soaring bouquet of sweet blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, minty herbs, graphite, and assorted spicy nuances. It's full-bodied, broad, expansive, and flawlessly balanced, and has still present yet sweet, fine-grained tannins. It's in a much sexier, more showy style compared to the 2010, but I suspect it will nevertheless be just about as long-lived. This is pure perfection in wine.Inc. VAT£3,476.64 -
(12x75cl) 2010James Suckling (100)
The nose is phenomenal with perfect aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon with currant bush, blackberries and minerals. A pure expression of Cab. The palate is perfect with a full body, but has perfectly integrated tannins with a texture like the finest cashmere. It's strong but noble with perfect form and beauty. All in harmony. A fabulous wine that everyone who loves Bordeaux should have a bottle or case of. Better in 2020.Inc. VAT£2,686.30
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Decanter (93)
A clear step up in richness, polish and texture. 80% new oak at this point. In these kind of vintages though, it is noteworthy that you have to climb this high to really be assured of getting a bottle that impresses and that lives up to the expectations of the appellation and château. Lovely damson fruits here. Will be ready to drink earlier than the monumental 2016, but you are getting a slick, well defined wine with plenty of great fruit. There is an austerity at this point, in that you feel the tannins closing in towards the finish, but this is the one I would happily recommend.In Bond£183.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (93)
Just as it was en primeur, the 2018 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is rich, sensual and enveloping. Silky tannins wrap around a core of blackberry jam, chocolate, spice, lavender and new leather. All the elements are so well balanced in this sumptuous, racy Saint-Julien. A warm growing season yielded small berries and heady, concentrated flavors. This is such a gorgeous wine. The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.In Bond£204.50 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94-96)
The 2019 La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou is endowed with a gorgeous, quite sumptuous bouquet loaded with black plum, tobacco, smoke and Earl Grey aromas that burst from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very pliant tannin, harmonious and velvety in texture, gradually building towards a detailed and mineral-driven finish. Maybe less opulent than the 2018 by comparison, yet a Deuxième Vin full of breeding.In Bond£294.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (94-96)
The 2019 La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou is endowed with a gorgeous, quite sumptuous bouquet loaded with black plum, tobacco, smoke and Earl Grey aromas that burst from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with very pliant tannin, harmonious and velvety in texture, gradually building towards a detailed and mineral-driven finish. Maybe less opulent than the 2018 by comparison, yet a Deuxième Vin full of breeding.In Bond£176.00 -
(3x75cl) 1961Wine Advocate (98)
Pale to medium brown-brick colored, the 1961 Ducru-Beaucaillou springs from the glass with notes of kirsch, raspberry preserves and dried mulberries plus wafts of sandalwood, menthol, aniseed and dried roses with a hint of black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with layers of dried red and black berries and tons of spice and floral sparks with a wonderfully plush texture and fantastically long, multilayered finish. A great bottle like this one satisfies all the style and quality expectations of a 1961, and then some.In Bond£10,950.00 -
(1x75cl) 1962In Bond£453.61 -
(1x150cl) 1966Wine Advocate (87)
A very flavorful wine now in full maturity, the 1966 Ducru-Beaucaillou defines such wine adjectives as elegant, graceful, and well-bred. Medium dark ruby with an amber edge, the bouquet is spicy, cedary, and subtly herbaceous. Velvety, round, medium-bodied flavors exhibit good concentration. Drink it over the next 5 years. Anticipated maturity: Now. Last tasted, 11/87.In Bond£699.00 -
(1x600cl) 1982The Wine Cellar Insider (98)
One of the recently released bottles from Ducru Beaucaillou, which you can tell, as it sports the modern design, was about as good a bottle of 82 Ducru as you are ever going to have. Full-bodied, elegant, rich, multi-layered, and multi-faceted, the tobacco, cedar, currant, and wet forest profile on the nose was great. But the layers of ripe, lush, rich fruits with their silky, refined tannins stole the show. Popped and poured, perhaps 30 minutes or so would have improved the experience, but as the wine developed in the glass, we were more than happy.In Bond£6,277.00 -
(3x75cl) 1982The Wine Cellar Insider (98)
One of the recently released bottles from Ducru Beaucaillou, which you can tell, as it sports the modern design, was about as good a bottle of 82 Ducru as you are ever going to have. Full-bodied, elegant, rich, multi-layered, and multi-faceted, the tobacco, cedar, currant, and wet forest profile on the nose was great. But the layers of ripe, lush, rich fruits with their silky, refined tannins stole the show. Popped and poured, perhaps 30 minutes or so would have improved the experience, but as the wine developed in the glass, we were more than happy.In Bond£1,250.00 -
The Wine Cellar Insider (98)
One of the recently released bottles from Ducru Beaucaillou, which you can tell, as it sports the modern design, was about as good a bottle of 82 Ducru as you are ever going to have. Full-bodied, elegant, rich, multi-layered, and multi-faceted, the tobacco, cedar, currant, and wet forest profile on the nose was great. But the layers of ripe, lush, rich fruits with their silky, refined tannins stole the show. Popped and poured, perhaps 30 minutes or so would have improved the experience, but as the wine developed in the glass, we were more than happy.In Bond£2,348.50 -
(12x75cl) 1986Wine Spectator (95)
A monster in its infancy. Almost black in color, with intense cassis, herb and mint aromas and superrich, dense cassis and licorice flavors. May last forever.--Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical. -TMIn Bond£2,195.00 -
(1x75cl) 1986Wine Spectator (95)
A monster in its infancy. Almost black in color, with intense cassis, herb and mint aromas and superrich, dense cassis and licorice flavors. May last forever.--Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical. -TMIn Bond£267.00 -
Wine Spectator (95)
A monster in its infancy. Almost black in color, with intense cassis, herb and mint aromas and superrich, dense cassis and licorice flavors. May last forever.--Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical. -TMIn Bond£1,175.00 -
(12x75cl) 1988Wine Spectator (92)
Youthful and vigorous beneath a polished surface, offering beautifully modulated currant, blackberry and chocolate flavors that resonate on the finish. The tannins are not obtrusive, allowing the flavors to ring true. Should develop well with cellaring through 1996 to '98.In Bond£1,956.70 -
Wine Spectator (92)
Youthful and vigorous beneath a polished surface, offering beautifully modulated currant, blackberry and chocolate flavors that resonate on the finish. The tannins are not obtrusive, allowing the flavors to ring true. Should develop well with cellaring through 1996 to '98.In Bond£1,058.50 -
(1x75cl) 1989Wine Spectator (92)
Delivers lots of tanned leather and spices, with very ripe fruit, from dried strawberry to raisin, turning to jam. Full-bodied, offering a very fresh palate of exotic fruit, currant and raisin as well as silky and polished tannins. So long and beautiful. Why wait? But it has a long life ahead. There is a lot of bottle variation in this wine due to TCA issues, but this is a beauty.¿'89/'99 Bordeaux blind retrospective (2009). Drink now. -JSIn Bond£247.00 -
(12x75cl) 1990Wine Spectator (89)
Tough and muscular, with loads of fruit hidden underneath the sharp tannins. A little clumsy now; needs time to mellow. Best after 1998. 17,000 cases made.In Bond£2,969.00 -
(6x75cl) 1990Wine Spectator (89)
Tough and muscular, with loads of fruit hidden underneath the sharp tannins. A little clumsy now; needs time to mellow. Best after 1998. 17,000 cases made.In Bond£1,108.00 -
Wine Advocate (90)
Ducru-Beaucaillou experienced an uncharacteristically shaky period between 1986 and 1990. The winemaking did not suffer, but the inconsistency from bottle to bottle (too many wines exhibited a musty, wet cardboard-like aroma), is history. The construction of a new cellar and replacement of every barrel has guaranteed the conditions necessary to produce trouble free wines. Ducru is on a roll, with fine efforts over recent vintages, including an exceptional 1994, spectacular 1995, and what looks to be an equally profound, super-concentrated 1996. A top-notch effort in this vintage, Ducru-Beaucaillou's 1994 displays a dark purple color, a textbook, cassis, mineral, licorice, and floral-scented nose, medium body, outstanding extract and purity, moderate tannin, and a persuasively rich, sweet, spicy finish. Everything is well-integrated (including the tannin). This should prove to be a classic St.-Julien. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2022.In Bond£179.00 -
(1x600cl) 1995Vinous - Neal Martin (96)
The 1995 Ducru-Beaucaillou has a fabulous bouquet, complex and harmonious, very pure with scents of blackberry, cassis, violet and iris flower. It just blossoms in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with edgy tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Vibrant, deep and complex with gentle grip, it fans out wonderfully towards the finish. Outstanding. Tasted at the 1995 Bordeaux off-line at Piccolino in London and also Club Bâtard in Hong Kong.In Bond£2,157.00 -
One of the oldest estates in the Medoc their wine structures very well to age, a characteristic of the best Bordeaux wines. The 1996 is full bodied with typical muscularity and good concentration. There is lots of ripe tannin but even more fruit presence.In Bond£3,440.00 -
(1x75cl) 2000Wine Spectator (95-100)
Super, raspberry character, with violet and minerals. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins. The finish goes on for minutes. Like the Ducru 1995, Wine Spectator's 1998 Wine of the Year. Score range: 95-100In Bond£247.00 -
James Suckling (97)
An incredible nose, with insane richness and notes of spices, leather, and sultanas. Full-bodied, with an amazing concentration of fruit and velvety tannins. A real blockbuster, lots of material here. Don't touch it for five years, pull the cork after 2015.In Bond£1,178.50 -
(6x75cl) 2004Wine Advocate (93)
One can’t say enough about the efforts Bruno Borie is pouring into this wonderful estate that I have often called the “Lafite Rothschild of St.-Julien.” An undeniable success, the 2004 Ducru boasts sweet aromas of creme de cassis, spring flowers, pain grille, licorice, and road tar. This pure, medium-bodied wine possesses moderately high tannin, superb concentration, good sweetness, and low acidity. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25 years. Also tasted: 2004 Croix de Beaucaillou (88; $25.00)In Bond£972.00 -
(12x75cl) 2006In Bond£1,705.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.Inc. VAT£1,555.20 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.In Bond£353.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035.In Bond£744.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (100)
Starting a duo of magical vintages, the 2009 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of those wines that always seems to deliver the goods. A normal blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that hit 13.5% natural alcohol, it has a soaring bouquet of sweet blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, minty herbs, graphite, and assorted spicy nuances. It's full-bodied, broad, expansive, and flawlessly balanced, and has still present yet sweet, fine-grained tannins. It's in a much sexier, more showy style compared to the 2010, but I suspect it will nevertheless be just about as long-lived. This is pure perfection in wine.In Bond£2,860.00 -
(12x75cl) 2010James Suckling (100)
The nose is phenomenal with perfect aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon with currant bush, blackberries and minerals. A pure expression of Cab. The palate is perfect with a full body, but has perfectly integrated tannins with a texture like the finest cashmere. It's strong but noble with perfect form and beauty. All in harmony. A fabulous wine that everyone who loves Bordeaux should have a bottle or case of. Better in 2020.In Bond£2,200.00

