Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2003

WINEADVOCATE: "A hot, dry summer resulted in a tiny production of under 10,000 cases of 2003 Ducru Beaucaillou from yields of 35 hectoliters per hectare. This beauty boasts a deep plum/ruby/purple color with a touch of lightening at the edge. Aromas of licorice, creme de cassis, incense and spring flowers are followed by a full-bodied, opulent wine with loads of fruit and glycerin as well as a plush texture. It is just entering its plateau of maturity where it should remain for another 10-15 years."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Lots of aromas of roasted fruit, such as blueberries and raisins, and spices. It has full body with plenty of velvety tannins and a long, slightly chewy finish. Needs another two or three years to come together but outstanding now."

WEINWISSER: "Etwas New World Style in der Nase, erdig mit Noten von Bitterschokolade und Heidelbeeren. Vanille, Toast, zarte Rauchnoten und Schwarzkirschen, Cassis und Wacholder. Saftiger Antrunk, monströser Extrakt, kräftig mit bolider Ansprache am Gaumen, polier ten Tanninen und Cassis. Opulenter Typ."

WINESPECTATOR: "Alluring aromas and flavors of warm fig bread, espresso, roasted mesquite and blackberry confiture are fleshy and impressively rendered, with a noticeable plum skin and toothy loamy edge. Shows a bit more juicy energy than most in this retrospective, but doesn't quite reach next-level quality.—Blind '01/'03/'05 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2017). Drink now through 2032. 17,500 cases made."

ANTONIO GALLONI: "Ruby-red. Sexy nose offers superripe currant, raspberry, graphite and coconut. Lush, very rich and fine-grained, with an almost confectionery sweetness and thickness for this St. Julien. Atypically powerful on the back end, but not hard. Bruno Borie took over direction of this property with the 2003 and immediately switched to a heavier bottle with a longer neck that could accommodate a 55-millimeter cork. A terrific showing-but I´d still give this wine another four or five years of aging."

WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "On a rapid evolutionary track, you already find secondary notes of wet forest floor, tobacco leaf, red spicy berries and smoke. The wine is round soft and polished, with a tobacco, spicy, red berry and mocha tinted finish. I would drink this over the next decade or so."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, kräftiger Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. In der Nase eher verhalten, tabakige Nuancen, etwas Unterholz, zarte Beerenfrucht. Am Gaumen kraftvoll, feste Tannine, die mürb sind, elegant und dunkelbeerig, frische Säurestruktur, zart nach Bitterschokolade, ist perfekt ausgewogen, süß und stoffig im Abgang, gute Länge, angenehme Kirschfrucht, aber auch erdige Nuancen im Nachhall, schon heute zugänglich, bietet viel Trinkspaß, verfügt aber auch über einiges Lagerpotenzial."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a solid, powerful wine packed with tannins and heavy black fruits. As so often, Ducru is taking its time, and this wine is still knitting itself together. But in future years, watch for the generosity, the richness as well as the finesse and freshness. Imported by Diageo Chateau & Estates."