Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
St. Julien, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
The 1996 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a vintage that I have not tasted for a number of years. Matured in two-thirds new oak, it has an open and expressive bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, estuarine scents, touches of liquorice emerging with time. It is higher-toned than the 1995 with iodine evolving with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, fresh acidity, quite sweet in the mouth and maybe like the 1995, just missing that complexity and terroir expression that I think has defined recent vintages from this estate. Maybe it is slightly compromised by some Merlot (25%) that was picked a but later, but still, there is a lot of pleasure to be found in this 1996. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2022)
The 1996 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a vintage that I have not tasted for a number of years. Matured in two-thirds new oak, it has an open and expressive bouquet, a mixture of red and black fruit, estuarine scents, touches of liquorice emerging with time. It is higher-toned than the 1995 with iodine evolving with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent tannins, fresh acidity, quite sweet in the mouth and maybe like the 1995, just missing that complexity and terroir expression that I think has defined recent vintages from this estate. Maybe it is slightly compromised by some Merlot (25%) that was picked a but later, but still, there is a lot of pleasure to be found in this 1996. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, July 2022)
Drinking from double magnum. Beautiful. Tannins receding, flavor filling out. Not too fruity. Great earth. Great balance. Way to spend Halloween.
Drinking from double magnum. Beautiful. Tannins receding, flavor filling out. Not too fruity. Great earth. Great balance. Way to spend Halloween.
Oct 31st, 2020
Anise and silky smooth black olives and a bit thin. A quick finish cherries . Still a young baby. This really needs to be revisited in 7-10 years
Anise and silky smooth black olives and a bit thin. A quick finish cherries . Still a young baby. This really needs to be revisited in 7-10 years
Dec 14th, 2018
Silky smooth with integrated graphite, cedar, red apple skin, and blackberry tart. Great wine drinking at its peak now.
Silky smooth with integrated graphite, cedar, red apple skin, and blackberry tart. Great wine drinking at its peak now.
2 people found it helpfulSep 20th, 2018
Despite doing a PnP the nose was full of cassis, leather and smoke. The palate introduced a red fruit component that was not on the nose along with hints of green pepper and earth . Despite the round tannins I felt the finish was slightly compressed. Will hold off 2-3 years before revisiting.
Despite doing a PnP the nose was full of cassis, leather and smoke. The palate introduced a red fruit component that was not on the nose along with hints of green pepper and earth . Despite the round tannins I felt the finish was slightly compressed. Will hold off 2-3 years before revisiting.
1 person found it helpfulSep 11th, 2018Great bottle on the way up.
Great bottle on the way up.
1 person found it helpfulJun 25th, 2017
21 years young and she drank beautifully w/ notes of earth, cassis and wet tobacco leafs.
21 years young and she drank beautifully w/ notes of earth, cassis and wet tobacco leafs.
1 person found it helpfulMay 10th, 2017
Tart berry bullshit. Ducru is probably the most disappointing chateau in all of Bordeaux. The wines get the press but NEVER show well. Weird!
Tart berry bullshit. Ducru is probably the most disappointing chateau in all of Bordeaux. The wines get the press but NEVER show well. Weird!
1 person found it helpfulApr 4th, 2017Outstanding aroma, length, strength....and a gallet from the vineyard itself to go along with it!
Outstanding aroma, length, strength....and a gallet from the vineyard itself to go along with it!
Jan 22nd, 2015