Ducru Beaucaillou 2014

St Julien, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes
The 2014 Ducru Beaucaillou showed extremely well when I tasted it with Bruno Borie during en primeur. Now in bottle, it delivers on that promise with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit infused with cedar and pencil box aromas. Quintessentially Saint Julien. The palate is very well defined with fine tannin, pitch-perfect acidity, a palpable sense of energy and frisson from start to finish that delivers plenty of tobacco-infused fruit. It is not the perfection-flirting legend that I have read elsewhere; it is just a damn good Saint Julien that is going to drink beautifully over the next 25 to 30 years. Score: 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 31 March 2017
The Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2014 is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot that was picked between 25 September and 15 October and matured in 100% new oak as usual. The IPT is 81, the pH 3.81. Compared to recent vintages the nose is more backward, sultry and less explosive although there is still impressive concentration here. It's just "buttoned down" at present. (A second sample showed a little more sous-bois, more complexity than the first.) The palate is medium-bodied and masculine, a little chalky in the mouth with a firm backbone. Bruno Borie has overseen a more classic Ducru-Beaucaillou, one that I suspect will be less approachable than the last three vintages, boasting a Pauillac-like, graphite-infused finish that just needs to gain a little more persistence during its élevage. This is one wine that actually showed better on my second visit, demonstrating more élan and brio, but nuances notwithstanding, it is another magnificent Ducru-Beaucaillou to add to the roster. Score: 94 - 96 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2040 01 April 2015
Fabulous aromas of crushed berries such as blackberries and blackcurrants, not to mention spices. Wet earth and cedar, too. Complex. Full-bodied, yet agile and complete. A dense center palate. Ultra-round tannins. Everything in the right balance. Wonderful to taste but better to drink in 2022. Score: 99 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 13 February 2017
Stunning aromas of licorice, blackcurrants, minerals, dried rose petals and wet earth. Full body, incredibly intense fruit yet this remains compacted and toned with tannins. Long, long finish. What a wine. Score: 96 - 97 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 20 March 2015
Opulent, with layers of warmed fig, boysenberry and blackberry confiture that loll along, yet are kept going by a terrific graphite note that is well-buried throughout. Alluring black tea, singed mesquite and bittersweet cocoa accents add to the panache. A head-turner. Best from 2020 through 2040. Score: 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2020-2040 05 January 2017
A very small crop here once again due to the vines producing very few bunches, concentrating the grapes naturally. Deep colour with opulent black fruit at the front and concentration building. Lots of layers, cool and refined, with a satiny texture, this is really impressive. Score: 93 - 96 Albany Vintners, - 24 April 2015
Very dense crimson. Cedary nose. Scented and more grounded with more density than the other wines from this stable. Firm finish with lots of fine velvety tannin. Masses of tannin (IPT 81). One of the most backward wines. Score: 17 - 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2026-2043 15 April 2015
The 2014 Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of the richest, most explosive wines of the year. Scents of blackberry jam, crème de cassis, graphite, pencil shavings, exotic spices and lavender meld into a plush core of super-ripe fruit in a decidedly opulent, full-throttle Ducru that is strikingly beautiful today. The 2014 is likely to require many years to drop some of its baby fat, but it is unquestionably stunning. Veins of saline-inflected minerality add a measure of freshness to the unctuous yet brooding finish. Readers who can find the 2014 should not hesitate, as it is truly magnificent. In 2014, the blend is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. Score: 94 - 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2015

Tasting Notes

The 2014 Ducru Beaucaillou showed extremely well when I tasted it with Bruno Borie during en primeur. Now in bottle, it delivers on that promise with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit infused with cedar and pencil box aromas. Quintessentially Saint Julien. The palate is very well defined with fine tannin, pitch-perfect acidity, a palpable sense of energy and frisson from start to finish that delivers plenty of tobacco-infused fruit. It is not the perfection-flirting legend that I have read elsewhere; it is just a damn good Saint Julien that is going to drink beautifully over the next 25 to 30 years.

Score: 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2020-2050 31 March 2017

The Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2014 is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot that was picked between 25 September and 15 October and matured in 100% new oak as usual. The IPT is 81, the pH 3.81. Compared to recent vintages the nose is more backward, sultry and less explosive although there is still impressive concentration here. It's just "buttoned down" at present. (A second sample showed a little more sous-bois, more complexity than the first.) The palate is medium-bodied and masculine, a little chalky in the mouth with a firm backbone. Bruno Borie has overseen a more classic Ducru-Beaucaillou, one that I suspect will be less approachable than the last three vintages, boasting a Pauillac-like, graphite-infused finish that just needs to gain a little more persistence during its élevage. This is one wine that actually showed better on my second visit, demonstrating more élan and brio, but nuances notwithstanding, it is another magnificent Ducru-Beaucaillou to add to the roster.

Score: 94 - 96

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2019-2040 01 April 2015

Fabulous aromas of crushed berries such as blackberries and blackcurrants, not to mention spices. Wet earth and cedar, too. Complex. Full-bodied, yet agile and complete. A dense center palate. Ultra-round tannins. Everything in the right balance. Wonderful to taste but better to drink in 2022.

Score: 99

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 13 February 2017

Stunning aromas of licorice, blackcurrants, minerals, dried rose petals and wet earth. Full body, incredibly intense fruit yet this remains compacted and toned with tannins. Long, long finish. What a wine.

Score: 96 - 97

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 20 March 2015

Opulent, with layers of warmed fig, boysenberry and blackberry confiture that loll along, yet are kept going by a terrific graphite note that is well-buried throughout. Alluring black tea, singed mesquite and bittersweet cocoa accents add to the panache. A head-turner. Best from 2020 through 2040.

Score: 95

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2020-2040 05 January 2017

A very small crop here once again due to the vines producing very few bunches, concentrating the grapes naturally. Deep colour with opulent black fruit at the front and concentration building. Lots of layers, cool and refined, with a satiny texture, this is really impressive.

Score: 93 - 96

Albany Vintners, - 24 April 2015

Very dense crimson. Cedary nose. Scented and more grounded with more density than the other wines from this stable. Firm finish with lots of fine velvety tannin. Masses of tannin (IPT 81). One of the most backward wines.

Score: 17 - 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2026-2043 15 April 2015

The 2014 Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of the richest, most explosive wines of the year. Scents of blackberry jam, crème de cassis, graphite, pencil shavings, exotic spices and lavender meld into a plush core of super-ripe fruit in a decidedly opulent, full-throttle Ducru that is strikingly beautiful today. The 2014 is likely to require many years to drop some of its baby fat, but it is unquestionably stunning. Veins of saline-inflected minerality add a measure of freshness to the unctuous yet brooding finish. Readers who can find the 2014 should not hesitate, as it is truly magnificent. In 2014, the blend is 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot.

Score: 94 - 97

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2015

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