Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2009

Weinwisser: "85 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 % Merlot. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Überraschend wuchtiges Bouquet von schwarzen Kirschen, Brombeergelée, Trüffeln, Zedern und Black Currant, noble Süsse, sehr edel im Ansatz. Perfekter, feinseidiger Gaumen mit viel Schmelz und delikat-pfeffriger Rasse, viel Lakritz und Szechuanpfeffer im dicken, fetten Extrakt, im Finale «schwarze» Aromen. Das volle Tanninpaket stützt den für einen Beaucaillou ungewöhnlich hohen Alkoholgehalt von 13,5 Vol.-%."

Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2009 Ducru-Beaucaillou is pure perfection and a much more sexy, opulent wine compared to the 2010. Crème de cassis, licorice, spice-box, lead pencil shavings and dried flower notes all – literally – soar from the glass of this incredible wine. Full-bodied, layered, expansive and deep, with sweet, sweet tannin and no hard edges, it’s already impossible to resist, yet is going to keep for four to five decades. I think the 2010 will be a longer-lived wine, but I’m not sure it will ever deliver the opulence or hedonistic pleasure of the 2009. Either way, that’s a fun comparison I look forward to having over the coming decades!"

The Wine Cellar Insider: "Now the truffle, crushed stone, Cuban cigar, flowers and crème de cassis is starting to bloom. With ample weight, density, length and purity, silky tannins and vibrancy, at just 10 years of age, this is really starting take off. Nothing is out of place, everything is in balance and the finish, with all its layers of fruit, spice and freshness lets you know, this is a wine of unique character Age this for another 5, 10-15 years and its only going to get better. This stunner should age and evolve with little effort for at least 30 more years or longer."

The Wine Advocate: "Deep garnet colored, the 2009 Ducru-Beaucaillou bursts from the glass with bombastic crème de cassis, black cherry compote and preserved plums notes followed by hints of menthol, hoisin, dusty soil and incense plus fragrant wafts of candied violets and baker’s chocolate. Full bodied, rich and spicy in the mouth, the palate offers a beautifully plush texture and bags of freshness, finishing long and layered. An absolute powerhouse!"

Decanter: "Rich, powerful and intense, this is still inky in colour at 10 years, barely out of the starting gate. It's a wonderful wine, full of pleasure, still fresh and young, with cinnamon and saffron spice, eucalyptus, menthol-edging, and drenched in dark, juicy fruits. Great stuff, with the clear ability to power on for decades."

Falstaff: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Etwas verschlossen, feine Edelholzwürze, reifes Waldbeerkonfit und Orangenzesten klingen an, dunkle Kirschen, ein Hauch von Nougat, öffnet sich mit Luft langsam. Komplex, saftig und extraktsüß, reife Kirschfrucht, feine, sehr gut eingebundene Tannine, mineralisch-salzig im Abgang, verfügt über sehr gute Länge, weiteres Potenzial für Jahrzehnte, wirkt dank seiner perfekten Balance relativ leichtfüßig, kann bereits geöffnet werden, sollte aber im Idealfall noch fünf bis zehn Jahre weiterreifen dürfen."

Wine Enthusiast: "Big and powerful, structured, with bitter chocolate and blackberry flavors. The wine is dense, the fruit enormous. But it does manage to keep freshness."

Wine Spectator: "Features plenty of flash and sizzle, with gorgeous, inviting mocha, espresso and chocolate notes up front, backed by a dense core of plum sauce, cassis, blackberry puree and blueberry reduction accents. Long, showing terrific polish, with a lovely lingering loam note and a buried singed apple wood edge that keeps everything driving through the finish. Best from 2016 through 2035. — JM"

James Suckling: "This is a rich, powerful, concentrated and well-structured wine, but in comparison to recent vintages (from 2014) this comes off slightly heavy on the mid-palate. However, I love the balance at the ripe and generous finish. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)"

Jancis Robinson: "Deep garnet with narrow brick rim. Complex and classic aromas of cigar box, really fragrant with air, and then leaner and fresher in the mouth than expected. Chewy and sinewy and really enjoyable now. Still a big wine."