Appellations

Ducru Beaucaillou 2022

St Julien, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

Delivers as it did En Primeur, again giving the impression of a carefully constructed, confident and poised wine, that has St Julien typicity, but turned up with Ducru opulence. Muscular, concentrated, packed with graphite, flint, crayon and gunsmoke, alongside juicy and rich fruit, giving contrasting textures that add interest and complexity. A ton of ageing ahead of it. 3.8ph, 95IPT. 100% new oak. 30hl/h yield.

Score: 98 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2030-2046 Date: 06 March 2025

The 2022 Ducru-Beaucaillou was a "Leviathan" when I tasted it from barrel, to use my own vernacular. In bottle since the second week of July 2024, it has calmed down a little aromatically, with blackberry, bilberry, crushed stone and freshly rolled tobacco scents that emerge with time. Fine tannins frame the palate. This is far more linear than it showed out of barrel. It's stricter, with an almost Pauillac-like tannic structure (Ducru-Beaucaillou can sometimes bear this trait). Full of energy and quite persistent, with a grippy finish, this is a long-term prospect that is uncompromising in nature—I mean that in a good way.

Score: 96 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2040-2075 Date: 12 February 2025

The 2022 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a wine of total sensual allure. All the elements are wonderfully woven together. Black cherry, plum, licorice, chocolate, spice and lavender infuse the palate with striking depth. The sustained, persistent finish is a thing of real beauty. Lifted floral accents extend the finish nicely.

Score: 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2030-2062 Date: 28 January 2025

Moving to the Grand Vin, it's a slightly more Merlot-influenced blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot, raised in new barrels. It brings the same level of concentration and structure as the La Croix but has another level of class, elegance, and purity, with sensational aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed stone, sandalwood, and graphite. The purity here is truly remarkable, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, perfectly integrated oak, silky tannins, and a great finish. This beauty hit 14% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.8 and an IPT of 95. Given its balance as well as its texture, it's going to offer pleasure with just short-term cellaring yet also evolve for decades.

Score: 97 - 99 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 05 October 2023

One of the Médoc's most powerful wines this year is the 2022 Ducru-Beaucaillou, a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot that opens in the glass with aromas of dark cherries and berries mingled with pencils shavings, vanilla pod and spices. Full-bodied, broad-shouldered and muscular, with a core of ripe but lively fruit underpinned by a chassis of powdery, liberally extracted tannin that asserts itself on the finish, it's a punchy, modern Saint-Julien reminiscent of a hypothetical blend of the 2018 and 2020.

Score: 94 - 96 William Kelley, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 28 April 2023

Some much creme de cassis and blackcurrant aromas and flavors here. Full-bodied with powerful tannins, yet fine and layered. Chewy. You can really feel the thick grape skins here. Excellent length. Tannins spread across the palate. Minerally and crushed stone.

Score: 97 - 98 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 13 April 2023