Château Ducru Beaucaillou, St Julien

‘A wine of pedigree and exceptional class’
Antonio Galloni

This St-Julien property is owned by the Bories who also own Grand Puy Lacoste and Haut Batailley. The spike in quality over the past decade or so can be credited to Bruno Borie, whose exacting standards have translated into wines of concentration and freshness.

The 2015 is a true embodiment of this style. Decanter echo this sentiment declaring that it is ‘Hard to imagine a better balanced, more vineyard-expressive wine’. With archetypal poise this superb Second Growth delivers with aplomb in 2015. Its close proximity to the Gironde estuary affords it favourable finesse and clarity in abundance with its glossy, brambly fruit.

Château Ducru Beaucaillou 2015, 2eme Cru Classé, St Julien
£1,272 Per 12 Bottles En Primeur
£636 Per 6 Bottles En Primeur

It has a relatively opulent bouquet for Saint Julien, with ripe black plum mixed with blackberry and cranberry, very well defined and neatly interwoven with the new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly savory opening, gently but insistently gripping the mouth. It feels dense and structured with a subtle marine-like note towards the linear, black olive-tinged finish. Bruno Borie has a 2015 with backbone, with longevity in mind. I suspect this will require a decade for the tannins to soften and continue the purple patch for this grand estate.
Drink 2025 – 2050
94-96/100, Neal Martin

The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou offers notable depth, power and richness. There is plenty of tannin lurking beneath, but it is nearly buried by the sheer intensity of the fruit. Smoke, tobacco, charcoal, leather and dark stone fruits give the 2015 much of its brooding, tightly wound personality. A wine of pedigree and exceptional class, the 2015 Ducru is structured yet also spherical in texture, with terrific balance and tons of style.
94-96/100, Antonio Galloni