Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2015

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is maybe a little more understated than its peers; it doesn’t grab you by your lapels and demand your attention. It is attractive, but I would have liked more vigor. The medium-bodied palate presents grainy tannin, gentle grip, more freshness in the mouth than on the nose, and a pastille-like purity toward the sweet, candied finish. Lovely, but it has certainly retreated into its shell and will require extended cellaring vis-à-vis its peers. [Another bottle tasted at the château and afforded a long decanting showed better.] Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting."

DECANTER: "Extraordinary blend of finesse and depth from 95% Cabernet. A wine with a taffeta texture that enhances the extreme purity and depth of fruit. Hard to imagine a better balanced, more vineyard-expressive wine."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Reife dunkle Beerenfrucht, feine Edelholzwürze, ein Hauch von Nougat, noch recht deutlich vom neuen Holz geprägt. Stoffig, schwarze Kirschen, integriertes, aber noch sehr präsentes Holz, frische Struktur, schwarze Kirschen im Abgang, gute Länge, im Moment etwas verschlossen."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of oyster shell, iron and currants. Hints of iodine. Full-bodied, very tight and focused. Love the finish of sandalwood, cinnamon, violets and lavender. Wonderful tannin texture. Linear and driven. Drink in 2022."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Mid garnet. Hint of old socks on the nose. Then lovely fresh, rosy fruit on the palate that almost disguises the tannin (like Montrose). Fascinating wine. Is this the Ducru? Long and intriguing."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated wine (there’s 5% Merlot) that was brought up in 100% new barrels. It’s a classic, elegant, classy 2015 revealing a deep, saturated purple color as well as terrific notes of crème de cassis, smoked earth, lead pencil, and violets. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, and a stacked mid-palate, it should start to shine in 6-7 years and keep for three decades."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "The complex array of aromatics offers cigar wrapper, wet earth, cedar wood, forest floor and dark red fruits. Full bodied, rich and concentrated, with sensuous, plush textures, density and complexity. The finish holds on for 50 seconds or so, building in intensity. This is rich, opulent and deep, with the structure to age for at least 3 decades with little effort."

THE WINEADVOCATE: "Composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is provocatively and profoundly scented of chocolate-covered cherries, fresh black currants, crushed blueberries and licorice with touches of cigar box, roses and violets plus hints of black pepper and tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, rich and sultry with tons of seductive layers and firm, wonderfully velvety tannins, it has a very long, multilayered finish."

WEINWISSER: "95 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 5 % Merlot. Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Noch nie war ein Ducru so süss bei der Primeurprobe, ein Korb voll Maulbeeren, Brombeeren und Cassis, füllig, schier opulent und komplex. Im Gaumen setzt sich diese ausufernde Frucht fort, dann erst kommt die Adstringenz! Sie zeigt das immense Potenzial dieses Weines auf, der mit seinem gebündelten Druck im extrem langen Finale streng und verlangend wirkt. Zweifellos ein grosser Wein. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Crus war die Ernte hier eher klein mit etwa 35 hl/ha. Er wird, meistens für 18 Monate, in 100 % neuem Holz ausgebaut. Gehört zu den grossen Ducrus. Und von solchen gab es in den letzten Jahren praktisch eine nahtlose Serie."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "With its 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine has super-ripe black-currant flavors encased in firm, smoky tannins and hints of wood. Showing the opulence of the vintage and the style of Saint-Julien, it will age for many years. The wine will certainly not be ready before 2026."

WINESPECTATOR: "Showy, with layers of warmed fig, roasted mesquite, black tea, incense and Turkish coffee notes, followed by waves of lush cassis, blackberry and raspberry confiture flavors. This has a graphite grounding rod, a tarry spine and riveting licorice snap details to keep it driving along. A head-turner for sure. Best from 2025 through 2045. 7,500 cases made."