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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 92.1 pts. and median of 93 pts. in 217 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by Marc C on 12/17/2023 & rated 94 points: Deuxième fois que j'ai la chance de boire Ducru-Beaucaillou 1970, et c'est toujours aussi bon.
Nez puissant sur un mélange de fruits rouges et noirs légèrement compotés, sous-bois, cuir frais, bois précieux, c'est très très joli !
Bouche enveloppante, dense mais avec également beaucoup de fraicheur et d'allant pour aboutir à l'équilibre génial des bordeaux.
Belle finale, avec une pointe animale qui ajoute à la complexité.
Très très beau ! Le niveau bas goulot et le bouchon impeccable ont sans doute bien aidé ! (883 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 11/21/2023 & rated 93 points: A charming, classic, medium-bodied, Bordeaux with dried flowers, red currants, red plums, cedar, tobacco leaf, and spice notes that display in the nose and on the soft, refined, elegant, crisp, and vibrant palate. This is not a wine to hold for further aging. But, it is just great for near-term consumption. Drink from 2023-2028. (2421 views) | | | Tasted by funderwood10 on 7/31/2023 & rated 89 points: Def on decline but still delicious. After 1 hr of air, dark berries, moldy wood and mushrooms, a bit of stone. It’s resolute, a “castle” (1512 views) | | | Tasted by boillatm on 7/22/2023 & rated 89 points: Mid-shoulder. Opened a bit longer before serving than my last bottle. Very dark crimson color belying the wine's age. The palate was, however, disappointing as the wine felt tired and didn't give much. Two more bottles, I won't wait that long before opening them. (1480 views) | | | Tasted by cos65 on 7/13/2023 & rated 96 points: From a cool cellar purchased on release
Crystal clear ruby garbet with a bit of sediment
Fairly rich black cherry flavors with some hints of violets and iodine. This particular bottle was was in perfect shape. Lovely (1582 views) | | | Tasted by Burgnick on 7/3/2023 & rated 91 points: Suprisingly fresh and lively for the vintage. Better than the 70 Mouton magnum on the side. 91-92 (1326 views) | | | Tasted by Bullethead on 5/2/2023 flawed bottle: Sucken cork (1101 views) | | | Tasted by G SQUARED on 3/26/2023 & rated 80 points: Possible storage issue but more likely just a poor performer in a relatively poor vintage. (903 views) | | | Tasted by sdr on 2/10/2023 & rated 91 points: This is a very well preserved bottle from K&L with joint neck ullage and excellent color, albeit brown at the meniscus. It’s Ducru and it’s old so there's more leather and raisin than bright fruit. Slightly elevated acidity but by no means spoiled. Medium weight and concentration. Very good, especially for age but younger Ducru is more enjoyable. (1233 views) | | | Tasted by Wine Canuck on 1/21/2023 & rated 92 points: 1970 Themed Bordeaux Dinner: Medium shoulder fill. This pours light garnet in the glass with medium bricking. The nose is of pencil shavings, tobacco, dried red cherry, peonies, gravel, celery seed and black currants. The palate enters on bright acidity with lovely tobacco character. Low tannin and medium acid. The finish is medium plus in length and closes nicely replaying much of the nose. All in all this was another bottle that was just a touch behind expectations, but by the same token was perfectly serviceable. (1660 views) | | | Tasted by Leukeran on 1/1/2023 flawed bottle: Starting to turn. Drinkable, but very tired. (1007 views) | | | Tasted by stefad on 12/26/2022 & rated 92 points: Bouteille achetée automne 2022 aux enchères. Niveau bas goulot, capsule et étiquette OK.
Ouverte et servie de suite. Bouchon très imbibé mais venu entier avec The Durand.
Robe tuilée, frange aqueuse, densité moyenne, plus proche d'un Bourgogne que d'un Bordeaux.
Nez sur les arômes tertiaires, musc, cuir et aussi cèdre et menthol. En bouche, le vin est suave, les tannins sont totalement intégrés et offre encore de belles sensations gustatives.
Un vin à boire bien sûr mais qui reste toujours intéressant.
Côté assiette : filets de palombes / Tajarin (pâtes piémontaises aux œufs), sauce crémeuse aux cèpes et noisettes.
92+/100 (894 views) | | | Tasted by phynes on 10/8/2022 & rated 94 points: Drank the 1970 ducru beaucaillou, montrose and la clotte to celebrate the fact that the number of people around the table were born in 1970 but missed out on having a 50th party due to Covid - I know, a first world problem! The wines were all thoroughly enjoyable despite their age. The Ducru (94 pts) just edged it ahead of Montrose (93 pts) and La Clotte (91 pts). A vintage that the can still offer pleasure if the wines are stored well. (1436 views) | | | Tasted by paulst on 7/24/2022 & rated 88 points: Fading; coarse; light faint nose; light blackberry. (1631 views) | | | Tasted by pavel_p on 7/23/2022 & rated 92 points: Pnp. Was worried about this bottle as the cork had slipped almost entirely into the bottle, and as I cut the capsule the cork fell completely inside. However it seemed to have sealed the wine until the very end as this 70 is showing really well and much better than a bottle 4 years ago.
Garnet with just slight bricking towards the rim.Beautifully integrated with fine wood spices, tobacco and some iron and earth around a still medium bodied fruit core. Much more weight here compared to an also very pretty 66 Ducru a few days ago. Not particularly long or complex but a complete and satisfying mature Bdx experience (1493 views) | | | Tasted by paulst on 6/28/2022 & rated 95 points: Rubber and earth; sweet blackberry; structured; long and balanced; smooth sweet finish. (1661 views) | | | Tasted by Marc C on 5/23/2022 & rated 94 points: Nécessite une bonne aération pour s'exprimer.
Le nez est puissant, complexe sur des notes de poivron rouge fumé, de bois précieux, épices (poivre), fruits noirs. Superbe !
La bouche est encore plus marquante : un mélange incroyable de puissance et d'élégance aristocratique avec un grain parfaitement soyeux.
Quelle présence ! l'archétype du bordeaux à maturité ! (1576 views) | | | Tasted by boillatm on 4/3/2022 & rated 91 points: Mid-shoulder. The cork disintegrated upon opening. At first almost overwhelming barnyard notes but these dissipated after around 20 minutes in the glass. After that we got to enjoy a good if not great mature bordeaux. I still have three bottles and will allow for 30-60 minutes between opening and tasting. (1671 views) | | | Tasted by paulst on 10/16/2021 & rated 97 points: Sweet earthy nose; blackberry and earth; balance; structured; nice coarse finish. (2402 views) | | | Tasted by paulst on 10/8/2021 & rated 92 points: Earth, rubber and blackberry; tannic support; length and complexity; solid finish. (2097 views) | | | Tasted by Nicephoras on 9/9/2021: In terrific shape, this was textbook old Bordeaux - cedar/tobacco for days. Vastly better than the 75 Latour next to it, though I thought that was an off bottle (unless old socks is a common Bordeaux descriptor). That said, this was ultimately more "proper" than it was especially exciting, but an excellent drink nevertheless. Plenty of fruit left here - I think this has years to go. (2336 views) | | | Tasted by ccn on 7/23/2021 & rated 92 points: From magnum. Tight at first, opened up quickly after decanting over 1-2 hours, then faded somewhat beyond that. A subtle wine on tertiary aromas -- not about power here. Not quite as good as the last bottle but still very nice. (2203 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 3/11/2021 & rated 94 points: Another superb bottle - fresh red fruit, cedar, ginger, malt, and loam, cigar smoke emerging with a bit of air. Vibrant flavor with integrated tannin. (3884 views) | | | Tasted by sdr on 2/14/2021 & rated 93 points: I thought this bottle, sourced years ago from K&L, must have been recorked. The label and capsule were mint, the level very top shoulder, the cork moist and very firm, the color showing just a bit of orange and brown. Yet there was no indication on label or cork that it was. The wine was archetypical Ducru Beaucaillou, austere tart red cherry, no oak apparent, spicy, challenging and severe. But if you can appreciate the style, it’s quite remarkable and rewarding. Old but by no means tired. (2784 views) | | | Tasted by joseduca on 2/7/2021 & rated 92 points: unbelievable effort from Ducru, the wine doesn't age, like TB12 on this SuperBowl Sunday. Cork in great shape, immaculate bottle from the cellar, this bordeaux can last another 10-15 years and keep its magnificence. (2324 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Yohan Castaing
Decanter, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical tasting: 1953-2018 (6/1/2021)
(Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Cabernet Sauvignon, St-Julien, Bordeaux, France, Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, May/Jun 2012, Issue #39, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou: One of Bordeaux’s Greatest Estates
(Château Ducru-Beaucaillou) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (2/25/2009)
(Ch Ducru-Beaucaillou St-Julien Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By John Gilman
View From the Cellar, Jul/Aug 2006, Issue #4, 1970 Claret: Thirty-six Years’ Young
(Château Ducru-Beaucaillou) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, Where the Heart Is: Ducru-Beaucaillou 1934-2018 (Jul 2022)
(Ducru-Beaucaillou Ducru-Beaucaillou Red) Subscribe to see review text. | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (1/21/2004)
(Château Ducru-Beaucaillou) Older, spice box, cassis nose; tasty, elegant fruit, sandalwood; long finish with drying tannins 94 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Decanter and View From the Cellar and JancisRobinson.com and Vinous and RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Producer website - Read more about Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou
A visit to Ducru Beaucaillou -https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/08/ducru-beaucaillou.html
"Pour Boys" Chicago vertical tasting of Ducru Beaucaillou -
https://unwindwine.blogspot.com/2019/11/ducru-beaucaillou-vertical-showcases.html
Red Bordeaux BlendRed Bordeaux is generally made from a blend of grapes. Permitted grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Malbec and rarely Carménère.Today Carménère is rarely used, with Château Clerc Milon, a fifth growth Bordeaux, being one of the few to still retain Carménère vines. As of July 2019, Bordeaux wineries authorized the use of four new red grapes to combat temperature increases in Bordeaux. These newly approved grapes are Marselan, Touriga Nacional, Castets, and Arinarnoa.
Wineries all over the world aspire to making wines in a Bordeaux style. In 1988, a group of American vintners formed The Meritage Association to identify wines made in this way. Although most Meritage wines come from California, there are members of the Meritage Association in 18 states and five other countries, including Argentina, Australia, Canada, Israel, and Mexico.France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanMédoc Vins du Médoc (Conseil des Vins du Médoc) - Read More about the Medoc
VdB
The eight precisely defined appellations of the whole of the Médoc (from Blanquefort Brook to the north of the Bordeaux built-up area, almost to the Pointe de Grave) may claim the Médoc appellation. But there is also a specific territory in the north of the peninsula which produces exclusively wines with this appellation. In the great majority, the Médocs come from the north of the peninsula. The great individuality of this region is that the number of vines has increased more recently here than elsewhere, apart from a few isolated spots where vines have grown for many years. Today, the size of the small estate has brought about the development of a powerful co-operative movement. Four co-operatives out of five belong to the group called Unimédoc which ensures aging, bottling and marketing a large proportion of their wines.St. Julien VdB
Read more detailed information on St. Julien and its wines The seventeenth century pioneers Traces are to be found of a Saint-Julien de Rintrac, perhaps Saint-Julien's earliest name, as from the thirteenth century. But we have to wait until the seventeenth century pioneers, urban and rural aristocrats, discover the exceptional merits of these terroirs.
Traces of this system still exist today in the structure of estates within the appellation: by the side of the two villages of Beychevelle and Saint-Julien, the large estates are heavily preponderant, representing more than four fifths of the total surface of vineyards.
The terrain is practically identical over all the commune. Only the proximity of the estuary, sometimes close, sometimes further away, can cause slight variations in climate. In fact, Saint-Julien-Beychevelle's layer of gravel takes the form of a huge rectangle over 3 miles long and 2 miles wide. And the alluvial deposits are particularly well fragmented into ridges of Garonne gravel of the early Quaternary. Accordingly, the vines are safeguarded from stagnant water.
The wines from the Saint-Julien appellation may be recognized by their unparalleled bouquet, particularly harmonious and mild. They have a fine deep colour and combine the finesse of their aromas and a solid constitution. They have body, are very rich in flavour and have a delicious and delicate bouquet.
Production conditions (Decree dated November 14, 1936)
In order to have the right to the Saint-Julien appellation of controlled origin, red wines must:
- come from the commune of Saint-Julien and from precisely defined parcels in the communes of Cussac, and Saint-Laurent, "excluding the parcels situated on recent alluvium and sand on impermeable subsoils",
- satisfy precise production conditions: grape-varieties (Cabernet-Sauvignon, Cabernet-Franc, Carmenère, Merlot Noir, Petit Verdot, Cot or Malbec), minimum of sugar (178 grammes - 6.27 oz. - per litre of must) degree (an acquired 10°5) base yield (45 hectolitres per hectare). |
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