December 3, 2022 - From a 750ml, the label was in tatters but the fill was excellent and the cork came out intact with a durand. This was an incredible delivery for a 60 year old wine, and only a slightly stewed nose gave any indication of potential over age. That said the nose and palate were glorious with stewed dried red fruits, cedar, and tobacco with hints of ginger spice. Depth and balance were impeccable. The finish does not quite round off the experience, and whilst lengthy does display more bitter notes towards the end. The wine and bottle was remarkable, and if tasted blind I probably could have guessed it was 20 or 30 years younger. However, I would not have the confidence to hold it any longer.
November 10, 2022 - From a very clean 750ml, the cork came out mostly dry but intact. Immediate aroma from the bottle was classic Medoc, earthy with stewed fruit, cedar, pencil lead, and gravel. The wine was surprisingly a bit shy at first, but came around after 15 minutes in the decanter and was a highly concentrated, rich treat with plenty of fruit left. To hold up this well at 60 years of age is amazing!
September 19, 2022 - For Anthony's 60th. This started out with a ton of acidity and not much fruit. A little bit of tart cherry... like a very light Pinot Noir. Within 10-15 minutes it calmed down, added some weight and was really a lovely drink after that. Dried cherry, leather, tobacco. Always a crapshoot on these older bottles but this one came through very well and had a lot of life ahead of it.
October 22, 2021 - Like the 1961, which was its flight-mate, a beautiful wine. However the 1962 has noticeably more body, heft and length than the 61 and is a bit grippier too. Glorious wine. On the night Patrick (‘Blanquito’) and I thought the 1962 edged it overall, but at the same time it could not quite match the exquisite fine-boned elegance of the 1961. Two glorious wines, such a privilege and a pleasure to catch them ‘a point’ and right on song. The 1962 was an auction purchase in a somewhat odd bod lot, which in hindsight was a steal.
January 22, 2020 - Fantastic. Classic, old school Bordeaux - the red fruit here feels slightly dusty but still has good intensity and brightness, and it's layered with lots of savoury earthiness and tobacco. It falls away slightly on the finish, but the whole package is superb and a reminder that I need to be a lot more patient with my Bordeaux.
June 22, 2019 - Richter Raritäten Vol.VII (Magnums only) (Farnsburg): Out of a Jeroboam. Hay, red berries, very elegant, juicy and fairly long
May 5, 2019 - Ducru Beaucaillou - 90 year Retrospective (Boston Harbor Hotel): Cedary tobacco, red cherry, black currants, and wild berry notes that build and build. Another example of why Magnum is the ultimate format for aging wine. The 62 really strutted and showed a full throttle cedar, cigar and stone. Exhibited classic ginger spice and black fruit in the finish.
May 5, 2019 - 90 years of Ducru Beaucaillou: How different to the 59 and 55 alongside; an elegant, slightly volatile, raspberry, lipstick, floral nose - so delicate in its way. The 1962 is always a feminine, beautiful Ducru-Beaucaillou and this is no exception - particularly from magnum. No doubt at its apogee now, this should be consumed with joy. From neck fill magnum.
November 3, 2018 - Low fill - upper mid shoulder. Pulled the cork with an ah-so. Decanted.
Red fruit (cherry), cedar, tobacco, graphite, Slight spice, slight cassis on finish. Really enjoyable. Good acidity. Fruit a bit light, elegant, a bit austere. Lingering finish - ~ 60 seconds.
May 14, 2017 - From a Cloup fils aine bottling, this was thin and tired after the cork was pulled. I don't typically slow-ox wines, but tried to do it here. Two hours later, it was just as anemic. I popped it in the decanter and 30 minutes later, it had completely reformed itself. With about 45 minutes in the decanter, a classic Ducru nose emerged: full of cassis, cedar, and ginger. Sweet and meaty on the palate with silky tannins. Though still alive, this is only for lovers of old wine - I would drink up any other bottles and enjoy them while they still have something special to offer. 93-94