In Bond Fine Wine. 2003 Château Ducru Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, France. Second Growth • Red Bordeaux in 12x75cl. Top critic score: 97/100 (JS). Drinking window: 2021–2040. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
This Second Growth estate has been owned by the Borie family for more than 60 years. Now managed by Bruno Borie and his sister Sabine Coiffe, Ducru is now producing quintessential St Julien, powerful and balanced, with a distinctive sleek character.
Robert Parker (RP) — 96/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 30/04/2006 · Drink 2010-2025
One of the most compelling Ducru Beaucaillou's made in the last quarter century is the 2003 (which is also the first vintage to be packaged in an impressive heavy glass bottle with a special long cork). A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, it is a powerful, tannic, blockbuster effort revealing a liqueur of mineral-like component intermixed with creme de cassis, raspberry, and flower…
Robert Parker (RP) — 94–96/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 30/04/2005 · Drink 2010-2025
This is one of the finest Ducru Beaucaillous made in the last 20 to 25 years. Certainly in the spirit of the 1982, the wine is atypically opulent and viscous, but still carries its trademark St.-Julien elegance. Deep ruby/purple in color with a sweet nose of jammy cassis intermixed with flowers and some of the tell-tale wet stone/minerality of this estate on display, it is viscous, voluptuously t…
Robert Parker (RP) — 93–95/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 30/04/2004 · Drink 2004-2029
The first vintage managed from start to finish by Bruno Borie, who replaced his younger brother, Xavier, at Ducru Beaucaillou, the 2003 is an atypically plump, juicy, fat, fleshy effort that does a terrific job of hiding its 13% alcohol. Yields were a mere 34 hectoliters per hectare. The harvest occurred between September 10 - 27, and two-thirds of the grapes made it into the final blend (80% Cab…