Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

5/22/2017 Wein Wisser WEIN WISSER : 19 / 20 85 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 % Merlot, 13,63 vol %, IPT 80 (Tanninkonzentration). Tiefes Purpur mit schwarzer Mitte und Granatschimmer am Rand. Was für eine Delikatesse! Blaubeerige Frucht gepaart mit opulentem Veilchenduft, dahinter Cassis und Nougatpraline, sehr konzentriert und geradlinig. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit viel schwarzer ohannisbeere sowie Lakritze im Rückaroma, langes nicht enden wollendes Finale mit Pflaumenhaut und Schlehensaft. Das Ganze muss sich noch finden. Potenzialwertung. 5/3/2017 Bettane & Desseauve BETTANE & DESSEAUVE ( BETTANE & DESSEAUVE) : 98 / 100 Arôme parfait de cèdre, texture d’une race de premier cru, finale précise, un des sommets du millésime en Médoc. 5/2/2017 Martin WINE ADVOCATE (NEAL MARTIN) : 96-98 / 100 The 2016 Ducru Beaucaillou is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot cropped at 36 hectoliters per hectare between 24 September and 14 October and matured in 100% new oak barrels (for a total of 18 months). The alcohol level comes in at 13.63% with a pH of 3.71. The bouquet is very closed at first, and so I aerated the Grand Vin by transferring from one glass to another. It gradually unfurls to reveal scents of blackberry, bilberry, cedar and a touch of pencil lead. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm backbone cloaked in layers of black fruit. The new oak is probably more present here than some of its peers, but there is more than sufficient substance to absorb that. The mineralité surfaces right towards the persistent finish, completing what is a Ducru Beaucaillou built for the long term. 4/27/2017 The Wine Cellar Insider THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER (JEFF LEVE) : 98-100 / 100 Opaque with shiny, purple highlights, this creation is brimming with flowers, licorice, dark berries, boysenberry, black cherry, smoke, espresso and a spot of wet earth on the nose. With velvet textures, density of fruit and a finish that remains with you for close to 60 seconds, this is a seldom-encountered purity of fruit, which is pulling ahead in the competition for the best Ducru Beaucaillou ever! Produced from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, the wine reached 13.63% alcohol with a pH of 3.71 and is aging in 100% new French oak barrels. The Merlot was harvested from September 26 to September 30 and the Cabernet Sauvignon from October 7 to October 14. Yields were only 30 hectoliters per hectare. 4/26/2017 Vinous VINOUS (ANTONIO GALLONI) : 94-97 / 100 One of the highlights of the vintage, the 2016 Ducru-Beaucaillou is simply magnificent. Vertical structure and intensity in all of its dimensions make a strong opening statement. Dark blue and black fruit, spice, new leather and smoke run through this superb, spectacularly rich, voluptuous Saint-Julien. The tannins are present, but they are nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. Nothing really stands out. In the end, the 2016 is a wine of spectacular balance and pure class. The natural richness comes through in the gravitas and profoundness of the finish. Even with all of its intensity, the 2016 comes in at just 13.5% alcohol. Tasted two times. 4/25/2017 Jukes MATTHEWJUKES.COM (MATTHEW JUKES) : 18,5 / 20 (85 Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 Merlot) | 100% new oak – matured for 18 months | 13.6% alc. | 80 IPT Ducru has a magnificent nose with layers of fruit and there is some wonderful density here with admirable focus. The tannins are bright and they lift the wine superbly. The tone is not quite as dark as the Pauillacs and it is also more red-fruited in spite of the high Cabernet Sauvignon percentage and yet this is a more sensual style. Lovely and pure, this is a more forward wine than many but it will also keep for a long time because the tannins are so refined. 18.5+ 4/24/2017 Decanter.com DECANTER.COM (JANE ANSON) : 97 / 100 Another exceptional success for St-Julien in 2016, following the longest growing season in the recorded history of the property. Reasonable alcohols, because of the slow maturation, emphasise the juiciness of the fruit. Hugely intense and concentrated black brambly fruits, with layer upon layer of stunning liquorice, dark chocolate, rich black cherry and graphite. This is an utterly beautiful wine and it approaches the essence of what owner Bruno Borie must want for this estate, I am sure. It is easy to imagine uncorking this with excitement in 10 or 15 years. The final blend is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, with a high tannin index of 80IPT and a 3.71pH, aged in 100% new oak for 18 months. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050 4/21/2017 Robinson JANCIS ROBINSON (JANCIS ROBINSON) : 17 / 20 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 100% new oak. Yields were the lowest in the commune: just 37 hl/ha because of poor flowering, esca pruning and selection. Still, 7,500 cases made! Very dark. Racy and sinewy with lots of richness and energy. Smooth and supple and quite sweet – arguably too sweet? – but with masses of tannins buried down there. Blackberry compote mixed with health juice. 4/19/2017 Wine Enthusiast WINE ENTHUSIAST (ROGER VOSS) : 97-99 / 100 Barrel Sample. This wine is so stylish, with a great future that is all balance and elegance. There are structured tannins as well as ample acidity that will allow the wine to age gracefully. A great Ducru with restrained power for long-term aging. 4/10/2017 Wine Spectator WINE SPECTATOR (JAMES MOLESWORTH) : 97-100 / 100 Offers a scintillating display of roasted apple wood, incense and warm ganache before the core of cassis, plum preserves and raspberry reduction starts to step forward. The finish, loaded with grip but remarkably polished, pulls everything together. A huge, undeniable wine, overt in style.—J.M. 4/5/2017 Jamessuckling.com JAMESSUCKLING.COM (JAMES SUCKLING) : 97-98 / 100 Very focused and reserved with a mineral, blackberry, licorice and blackcurrant character. Full and refined. Walking a tightrope between steely tannins and and dark fruit. This is highly intellectual and unique. Great finish. Remake of the extraordinary 2014? Stronger than the 2015, for sure.