Ducru Beaucaillou 2008

St Julien, Second Growth

Units	Size	Case size	GBP Price:	Quantities	Buy

Tasting Notes
Ruby-red. Pungent, vibrant aromas of cassis, bitter chocolate and graphite. Silky and seamless, but with terrific lift to the tight core of raspberry, mineral and chocolate flavors. Strong but integrated acidity gives superb vinosity to the wine's racy fruit. Finishes brisk, perfumed and long, with suave, dusty tannins. This wine went into a shell with aeration, suggesting that it will need at least several years of bottle aging. I would not be surprised if it merited an even higher score ten years down the road. (92+ points) Score: 92 Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 July 2011
One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035. (95+) Score: 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2016-2035 03 May 2011
In Bruno Borie’s words, the 2008 Ducru Beaucaillou is 'well above 2004, with much more structure than 2007, and more sensuality than 2006.' I would add that it is even better than that, and as profound as the 2005. Approximately 33% of the crop made it into Ducru, which came in at 13.1% natural alcohol. This 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot blend reveals a dense opaque purple color as well as a gorgeously sweet bouquet of spring flowers, creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, espresso roast, and spice. A testament to the density and richness of this wine is the fact that no oak is apparent in the aromas or flavors. The wine is unctuously textured, but analytically, it has a good level of total acid and sound pH. This fabulous offering will age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. Bruno Borie deserves accolades for the remarkable things he has accomplished at Ducru Beaucaillou over the last few years. Score: 96 - 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2009
In Bruno Borie’s words, the 2008 Ducru Beaucaillou is “well above 2004, with much more structure than 2007, and more sensuality than 2006.” I would add that it is even better than that, and as profound as the 2005. Approximately 33% of the crop made it into Ducru, which came in at 13.1% natural alcohol. This 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot blend reveals a dense opaque purple color as well as a gorgeously sweet bouquet of spring flowers, creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, espresso roast, and spice. A testament to the density and richness of this wine is the fact that no oak is apparent in the aromas or flavors. The wine is unctuously textured, but analytically, it has a good level of total acid and sound pH. This fabulous offering will age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. Score: 96 - 98 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2009
Fabulous nose of crushed blackberries, minerals and raspberries, with hints of licorice. Full, with very fine tannins and a racy finish. I love the precision of the tannins and the long finish. Score: 90 - 93 James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2009
This contains 10% pressed wine (Bruno classifies five types of press wine and only uses the best.) A deep purple colour. Again, the nose is a little reticent at first but unfurls nicely in the glass with blackberry, cassis, a touch of graphite and smoke. There is a fine sense of mineralité this year. The palate is full-bodied, firm tannins, masculine, structured but great purity. Blackberry, cassis, blueberry and a touch of crushed violets. Grainy finish, a little unresolved but very fine matière. Good length and it harmonizes with aeration. More conservative than Las-Cases, but it is still extremely well crafted and should age gracefully. Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 April 2009
85% Cabernet Sauvignon. 90% new oak. Seven different coopers. Only 35 out of an estate total of 100ha goes into this wine now, though it used to be much more (before La Croix existed as a distinct entity). Impressive density with a pale purple rim. Aromatic and dry but with a lot of rich, velvety mass in the middle. Pretty impressive! Marginally flashy but really makes a splash. Dry finish. Very firm with lots of dry tannin. Pretty confident and savoury. Wait! Ambitious. Very ‘masculine’. Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2030 01 April 2009

Tasting Notes

Ruby-red. Pungent, vibrant aromas of cassis, bitter chocolate and graphite. Silky and seamless, but with terrific lift to the tight core of raspberry, mineral and chocolate flavors. Strong but integrated acidity gives superb vinosity to the wine's racy fruit. Finishes brisk, perfumed and long, with suave, dusty tannins. This wine went into a shell with aeration, suggesting that it will need at least several years of bottle aging. I would not be surprised if it merited an even higher score ten years down the road. (92+ points)

Score: 92

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 July 2011

One of the stars of the vintage, and a remarkable achievement in 2008, with impressive richness, this dense purple colored wine is almost as opaque as the 2010. Spring flowers, crushed rocks, creme de cassis and some subtle oak are followed by a full-bodied, concentrated wine that transcends the vintage character in its power, richness, and aging potential. It also exhibits tremendous precision, purity, and depth of character. It is more forward than the 2010 is likely to be, but probably not as sumptuous as the 2009 will turn out to be. This is a wine to buy. Anticipated maturity: 2016-2035. (95+)

Score: 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2016-2035 03 May 2011

In Bruno Borie’s words, the 2008 Ducru Beaucaillou is 'well above 2004, with much more structure than 2007, and more sensuality than 2006.' I would add that it is even better than that, and as profound as the 2005. Approximately 33% of the crop made it into Ducru, which came in at 13.1% natural alcohol. This 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot blend reveals a dense opaque purple color as well as a gorgeously sweet bouquet of spring flowers, creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, espresso roast, and spice. A testament to the density and richness of this wine is the fact that no oak is apparent in the aromas or flavors. The wine is unctuously textured, but analytically, it has a good level of total acid and sound pH. This fabulous offering will age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. Bruno Borie deserves accolades for the remarkable things he has accomplished at Ducru Beaucaillou over the last few years.

Score: 96 - 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2009

In Bruno Borie’s words, the 2008 Ducru Beaucaillou is “well above 2004, with much more structure than 2007, and more sensuality than 2006.” I would add that it is even better than that, and as profound as the 2005. Approximately 33% of the crop made it into Ducru, which came in at 13.1% natural alcohol. This 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot blend reveals a dense opaque purple color as well as a gorgeously sweet bouquet of spring flowers, creme de cassis, blackberry liqueur, licorice, espresso roast, and spice. A testament to the density and richness of this wine is the fact that no oak is apparent in the aromas or flavors. The wine is unctuously textured, but analytically, it has a good level of total acid and sound pH. This fabulous offering will age effortlessly for 30-40+ years.

Score: 96 - 98

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2009

Fabulous nose of crushed blackberries, minerals and raspberries, with hints of licorice. Full, with very fine tannins and a racy finish. I love the precision of the tannins and the long finish.

Score: 90 - 93

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2009

This contains 10% pressed wine (Bruno classifies five types of press wine and only uses the best.) A deep purple colour. Again, the nose is a little reticent at first but unfurls nicely in the glass with blackberry, cassis, a touch of graphite and smoke. There is a fine sense of mineralité this year. The palate is full-bodied, firm tannins, masculine, structured but great purity. Blackberry, cassis, blueberry and a touch of crushed violets. Grainy finish, a little unresolved but very fine matière. Good length and it harmonizes with aeration. More conservative than Las-Cases, but it is still extremely well crafted and should age gracefully.

Score: 92 - 94

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 April 2009

85% Cabernet Sauvignon. 90% new oak. Seven different coopers. Only 35 out of an estate total of 100ha goes into this wine now, though it used to be much more (before La Croix existed as a distinct entity). Impressive density with a pale purple rim. Aromatic and dry but with a lot of rich, velvety mass in the middle. Pretty impressive! Marginally flashy but really makes a splash. Dry finish. Very firm with lots of dry tannin. Pretty confident and savoury. Wait! Ambitious. Very ‘masculine’.

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2016-2030 01 April 2009

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