Appellations

Ducru Beaucaillou 2017

St Julien, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

Proving that Ducru is so often able to rise above challenging years, this is one of the wines of the vintage, showing beautifully even at six years old. Lovely dark spices, intense and concentrated blackcurrant and black cherry fruits. The tannins are more softly spoken and finely boned than in vintages like 2015 and 2016, but they are plentiful and support the fruit, and the signature graphite and mint leaf sign-off is a textbook example of St Julien finesse. Harvest September 18 to 30. 100% new oak. Eric Boissenot consultant, Emmanuel Bonneau technical director.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2024-2040 Date: 31 May 2023

The 2017 Ducru-Beaucaillou appears to have gained a little opulence since I last tasted it, just after bottling. Here it is armed with precocious blackberries, bilberry, violet petals and potpourri. Wonderful definition. The palate is medium-bodied with svelte, saturated tannins, superb intensity yet a Ducru-Beaucaillou with linearity and strictness. It is elevated by a saline finish that leaves the tongue tingling afterwards. A very fine Saint-Julien, it needs 4-5 years in the cellar. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château.

Score: 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2027-2050 Date: 21 July 2022

The 2017 Ducru-Beaucaillou is racy, deep and opulently beautiful. In 2017, Ducru is very red-fruited and floral, with tons of inner sweetness and nuance to match its sumptuous, exotic personality. Mint, spice, chocolate and licorice accents add character as the 2017 gains brightness, aromatic purity and detail with a bit of air. Bruno Borie gave the 2017 18 months in 100% new oak. Along with Beychevelle, Ducru is the most flamboyant wine in Saint-Julien. Tasted two times.

Score: 96 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2025-2047 Date: 01 March 2020

There was no frost at Ducru-Beaucaillou in 2017 due to its proximity to the estuary. This barrel sample comes from the final blend, which was made in early 2018. Composed of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot and sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2017 Ducru-Beaucaillou is intensely scented of blackcurrant cordial, blackberries and lavender with hints of crushed rocks, iron ore, rose hips and Provence herbs plus touches of wood smoke and sandalwood. Medium-bodied, very firm and grainy in the mouth, it possesses lovely freshness, lifting the intense flavors, finishing long and minerally. Sporting an incredible core of muscular mid-palate fruit, this wine should age incredibly. (95-97+)

Score: 95 - 97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 27 April 2018

Very dark with black core. Super-refined dark fruit on the nose, ripe but not overly. Just a touch – and nicely – smoky. Chewy, deep tannin texture shot through with lovely juicy fruit, red and black. Lots of energy and the oak well in the background. Firm and chewy tannins and needs time but has a long fresh finish – lovely fresh fruit to the end that is entwined with the tannins to keep them moving across your palate.

Score: 17 - 18 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2027-2040 Date: 27 April 2018

Unquestionably one of the successes in the vintage is the 2017 Château Ducru Beaucaillou, which reminds me of the 2014, with perhaps a touch more oomph. As always, it’s a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated blend (90/10 Cabernet and Merlot) brought up in new barrels. Its vibrant purple color is followed by a terrific bouquet of crème de cassis, blueberries, violets, and exotic flowers. It has medium to full-bodied richness, plenty of mid-palate, and fine tannin as well as a great finish. It’s going to need 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for two decades. Count me in as a huge fan.

Score: 94 - 96 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 23 April 2018

Holy.... This is so powerful and dense with amazing depth of fruit and beautifully ripe tannins tannins. Full body, layers of fruit and tannins. It’s has a long finish but then kicks off at the end. Remains classic in style.

Score: 97 - 98 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 05 April 2018

This has a warm and inviting feel, with mocha, Christmas pudding and blackberry and plum compote aromas and flavors flowing through atop fleshy, velvety structure. There’s a graphite edge along with some alluring spice accents, and this stays polished and lengthy in the end.

Score: 93 - 96 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 04 April 2018