Deuxième fois qu’on le déguste en trois semaines et toujours la même émotion : ce vin est tout en finesse et en élégance avec une belle acidité qui le maintient plus que vivant : nez sur le cuir et les notes de mousse et de sous-bois, milieu de bouche de bonne tenue mais sans être démonstratif et surtout très belle longueur pleine de charme, d’équilibre et de raffinement. Bref un grand et vieux cru classé bordeaux comme on les aime, qui arrive à faire se télescoper le passé et le présent dans un simple flacon de verre…Magique !
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Un grand cru de la rive gauche fidèle à son appellation : un nez de cuir et de mousse, une matière encore ample bien soutenue par une belle acidité, d’une certaine façon un vin imparfait mais avec un charme fou, qui est très digeste et encore bien vivant après 45 ans !
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From d-mg. Light ruby. So fragrant, lots of red cherry, black tea, forest floor, touch of leather and also white lily. No tertiary notes at all. On the palate it is medium bodied (in a good way!) and everything in harmony and balance and lovely freshness still. Wonderful and in this format plenty of life left in it!
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St Julien Dinner at Nice Matin (New York, NY): Mystery vintage to complete a phenomenal line-up of Ducrus. This was fully mature, medium-bodied and showing tons of beautiful complexity. All the characteristics that were evident in this St Julien tasting: fragrant feminine wines with elegant cassis fruit.
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Amazing to see how long this bottle has gone. Very milky and cloudy when viewed from glass but there was still some life in it. Light forest floor and cedar scents. Quick finish but was still fun to drink nearly a 45 year old Bordeaux
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1978 Bordeaux Lunch (Bel and Brio): Lighter in colour than the Pichon Lalande next to it but still a youthful scarlet. Nose of cigars, tobacco, violets, and blackberry with a capsicum overlay that receded with time in the glass. A classic left bank '78, slightly lean but delicious and ready to be enjoyed.
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A stunningly perfect bottle of this wine that I would've thought on the downswing by now. It's certainly '78 in style with a bit of green stalk but that gives way to a beautifully layered texture with classic aged Ducru flavors of cedar spice, tobacco and graphite minerals. Very fresh tasting with good balance and a superb aged silky texture. The finish is complex with fully-resolved tannins and wonderful notes of smoky minerals, bitter chocolate and grilled nuts. A very fine aged Bordeaux and a very surprising performance tonight. Drink up now for sure.
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Stored in cold cellar since release. Fill just below cork. Cedar wood bouquet. Excellent condition. Red brown colour. Tannin fully resolved. Good balance. Lean and old fashioned in pre climate warming style. Highesh acidity. No real complexity. Drink very soon
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Dinner at Margeaux Brasserie (Chicago, IL): Ah, these old Ducrus, you can never really tell if they're corked or not. This one definitely had some of those musty, dirty flavours on the palate, and while it wasn't TCA, it was definitely too close for comfort. Backwards, leathery, and dirty without any redeeming fruit or perfume, this is heavily rustic wine that just doesn't appeal to me.
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double decanted before I went to party, black plum fruit, a slightly green but not unpleasant herb note, surprising tannins. A good enough mature claret. B
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A real treat to taste and observe development. Fully at its prime now. Aromas of dried fig, dried cranberry, Earl Grey tea, mushrooms and old cigar box. Smooth and balanced, not lacking anything at this moment, but giving so much. I think the rich fruit concentration here is the main factor that keeps this wine together, while the acidity plays a background role. Long, savory finish. Top-notch quality from one of my favorite Bordeaux appellations.
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This seemed fine if a touch muted when double-decanted in afternoon, but seemed a little volatile and disjointed when first poured, but settled down a bit. Black fruit, cigarbox, not so long. B-
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Tasted blind. We guessed bordeaux from the 80s, St Julien and went as far to pick t as a 1986 Talbot... When the year was reveled we went for Las Cases. This is a very solid wine and among the better ones we have tried from 1978, elegant and well matured. Very pretty evolution, tertiary wine, still very much alive and full of charm if old wines is what one likes. WE loved it! 93-94
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From bottle purchased at auction many years ago, initial storage of this bottle is unknown. Smells and tastes of dark fruit and red berries, leather, earth, cigar box, smoke, bordeaux dust, and a bit of spice, with tertiary notes obvious. Fragile wine that because of previous experience I slow ox-ed for an hour without decanting. Past its prime, (at least this bottle) and fading after 3 hours in the glass this was still enjoyable with a cheese, beef and baguette plate. Anytime you get to drink a 40 year old bottle of classified Bordeaux that isn't corked, it's a good night.
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Nice, if slightly over the hill btl of mature ducru. Slightly less refined than the 75 I had about a year ago, but tertiary notes with cedar and charcoal, plus dried blackberry. On the palate, faded, but still some nice charcoal and herbs. Paired well with the beef.
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Opened 6 magnums (owc in pristine conditions) and aired in bottle for 3 hours before drinking. Leather, berry, earth and some mint. Couldn't finish all wines because opened a total of 60+ bottles of different wines for the evening. Put the cork back on for 2 of the barely touched magnums and tried the following evening. They were still very drinkable even kept in warm room temperature. Kept some wine left for one more evening, and it began oxidizing though still borderline drinkable. Amazed how long the wine can last at that age. With such condition, the wine should be able to last for another 5-10 years especially in large format. Will save my other owc-magnum for couple more years.
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Decanted right before serving as first bottle was corked. Faded garnet colour. A bit of coaxing revealed a beautiful profile of faded dark red fruit with cedar, leather and a bit of damp earth emerging. Mellow and very St Julien, this was drinking really well now. ****+
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Small Plates and Mix of Aged Wines (Craig & Nita's Place): Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. Dark red fruits here, more rustic, more spicy and the wood signature is more prominent, wood spices, a bit angular on the finish.
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Cork came out ok. Decanted. Lighter color but only with a hint of tile. The bouquet was huge. Big perfume. Beautiful bouquet of cedar, spices and classic maturity flavors. Lighter texture but beautiful St Julien. Elegant to the core.
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Annual holiday dinner with DC winos: fabulous wines kick off 2016! (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): OK, yes this turned out to be slightly corked. When I first took a whiff, I thought it seemed off, but there were signs of faded rose that are so typical of Ducru and I instead focused on these... Opened after the LLC 1978 and the difference was palpable. The LLC was far more firm, Pauillac like, while the Ducru more delicate if a bit musty. I thought it was better on the palate, but indeed, the mustiness detracted quite a bit, making it simply a flawed bottle. Alas.
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Zachys Holiday Auction - Winter 2015 (Smith & Wollensky (48th & 3rd Ave)): I really enjoyed this. Very nicely aged, leather, saddle, green pepper, soft. Everything was integrated together and just drinking very nicely. Would be surprised if this was heading towards peak soon, but have less knowledge of Bordeaux so just a supposition.
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Upper shoulder, good cork and 2 hour near clean (crusted) decant. Initial strong aroma of stewed plum and truffle, balanced by pouring time by smokiness and cooked red berry fruit. Perfectly maturity, concentration of the fruit aromas on the palate in a medium bodied frame of integrated charred oak. Excellent length, racy and superb. See little point in holding - it's not going to improve - but equally should remain on this plateau of excellence for another two to three years with this structure. Sadly my last.
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The ullage was pretty good for this 37 year old wine, the label a little damaged and the cork crumbly, but the contents of the bottle were rewarding on the night. Deep robe and garnet rim. Fully matured, with tertiary notes of earth and gravel and a feint cedary. A distinctive peppery note of the cabernet franc and perhaps petit verdot (clearly predates the uprooting of these two varietals in Ducru's vineyards). Mid-length finish.
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Earthy, soy, saddle leather, lead pencil, dark chocolate and aged leather notes - you know the chocolate you might hypothetically find behind the sofa, which has been there for years, the hallmark of an old wine - but still this is a dignified wine, with cedar, a fair bit of lead pencil and some residual fruit, now fading graciously into the shimmering sunset. At 37 years of age this bottle was still delightful while still showing its age. Different bottles in different formats could be more profound.
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My 1000th tasting note! Bottle superficially looked as though it had been in the wars - but level was good and cork in A1 condition. 90 minute (almost clean) decant. Deep brickish red with significant clear edges in glass. Ripe red fruits, truffle and earthy aromas; in the mouth medium bodied, ripe catty wild strawberries and some hedge berries, a touch of hazel, capsicum with dusty tannins brought together by an assertive but integrated acidity. Clearly past its absolute best by perhaps 5-10 years but nonetheless still excellent with the grip to accompany our roast duck to perfection. Drink up soon while still in a good place.
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Fill into the neck, opened for 2 hours then decanted just prior to serving. Medium body with smooth earthy flavors. not much fruit left. Enjoyed but time to drink up
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Wines from the 70's: 1975 Prieure-Lichine, 1976 Cos d'Estournel, 1978 Ducru-Beaucaillou & 1979 Leoville Las Cases.
My #2 wine of the night. Bold aromas. Earth, medium to big taste. Still holding up. Not as polished as the 1976 Cos d'Estournel. I would have again. Decant 1 hour. Great with the Roast Loin of Lamb with Mushroom Duxelle and Morel Demi-Glace.
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Appearance: Hazy/dull, med + intensity, garnet Nose: clean, med + inten., tired., aromas of grn pepper, sav spice, vegetal, oak, herbs, dried/madierized red and black fruit Palate: dry, med acidity, med tannin, med alcohol, body med +, med + flavour inten, flavours of vegetal, grn pepper, stem, pith, sav spice (card., licori., old pepper) gamey -aged meat, and a touch medicinal. Length med Quality good to very good Too old -drink now
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1978 Bordeaux @ Ledbury (The Ledbury): Quite fresh on the nose. Cedar and maybe a touch of green pepper. Sweet-fruited, a little less harmonious and smooth than the Palmer, but in its way almost as good. Fresh, cedary, sweet red fruit. Long and elegant. ****1/2
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A superbly mature Ducru Beaucaillou from an exceptionally well kept bottle. Opaque red colour with signs of amber aging on the rims. Elegant vegetal aromas with notes of tobacco and damp earth as well as some fig and raisins. On the palate the wine still holds a remarkable amount of fruit in the form of black currant and plum, but also boasts wonderfully intertwined layers of caramel, vanillin, moccha and mild spice. The texture is still wonderfully unctuous and the tannins holding amazingly well, leading to a delightful 40 second plus finish. A great wine nearing the end of its peak. Drink up!
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11th of 12, decanted 30 minutes, level into neck, med brick red, lightening with browning rim, lovely complex nose, black fruits, graphite, some cedar, less exciting on palate, med, long, nice structure but fruit lacking - rainy August catching up on it - drink up. Very good indeed (17/20).
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Pre-Christmas Dinner with Friends (Zurich): Tasted blind: To bottle was a text book example of a TCA wine but I am excited about tasting this wine as below the "stench" it showed nice flavors. The color was still very "youtful"...one to retaste....
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I was nervous about this wine given its age (contrary to popular opinion, not all wines get better with age, especially if they are not stored properly). I was afraid my first sip would taste like a tablespoon of vinegar. I was very happy to be wrong. This wine was still very,very drinkable, in fact, it was quite refreshing. It made me realize that I need to learn more about french wines.
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Fully mature Bordeaux, but still pleasant and lively. Color is brick red as expected. Nose is initially very earthy/barnyard but with air it becomes rather rich, round, leathery and chocolatey with just a hint of dark fruit. Flavor is austere at first but again with some air gets a bit rounder, though dominated by the secondary flavors like cedar and juniper and only a little fruit, mostly cassis. Another lesson that even old wines sometimes need a few hour to breathe. This one kept developing favorably through the fourth hour after decanting.
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Dinner at home with Mrs L, Thomas and Carman (Hong Kong): A very curious wine this one! Popped and poured single-blind alongside the 1970 Palmer, this one came across smelling..well.. shall i say.. old. Wet forest floor, damp cardboard, mushroom, not the most attractive -- and where's the damn fruit?! But on the palate -- huh! Beautifully woven notes of blackberries and dried currants -- "there it is!" as my lovely 2-year old daughter Bridget would say when she spots her favourite blanket. If anyone is searching for a wine that tastes much better than it smells, that search should end here -- with the 1978 ducru!
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Dinner at Alvin's (Vancouver, BC): Tasted blind – this was easy to peg as Bordeaux with its classic claret notes of bell pepper, maturing red fruits and leathery cedar. Fully resolved with fairly lively acidity that gives lift and energy. At peak and drinking very well right now. Excellent.
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This bottle showed better than the one I had 2011. While wine delivered a nice experience, it lacked that Bordeaux wow factor you get from a nicely aged bottle. Decent, but no fireworks.
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Fruit très présent, d'une jeunesse insolente. Equilibre parfait entre tains intégrés, acidité et fruité (airelle, framboise, fruits rouges). Bonne acidité de fond qui laisse augurer qu'il tiendra encore quelques années. Excellent vin. Perfect balance, very good taste (berrys, very young). A marvel !
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Dark ruby core with brick red hue. Beautiful nose of subtle sweet tobacco, dried fruits, blackcurrant and dried herbs with an elegant touch and no sign of going downhill. The palate is full of secondary notes, with sweet tobacco, earth and cedar oak. Still posses a powerful palate and holding amazingly well tonight. Long aftertaste with fine tannins and a soft grip.I enjoyed it alot and it is the favourite wines of all tonight.
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Tenure Celebration: For most, this was the wotn. A nearly perfect fill and a cork that might have seeped a tiny bit but was removed without too much trouble. The Ducru was very savory, reminding me of soy or even a mild beef broth. There was a hint of prune juice hiding in there but otherwise the fruit was gone. This wine really lingered on the palate and evolved within the glass as long as I could keep from finishing it off. Gorgeous.
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From magnum this was Bright, fresh and energetic. There are some cedar, graphite and leather smells along with a suggestion of cassis fruit. It is nicely proportioned with flavours that are crisp and detailed and a structure that gives support to the overall package. Lovely luncheon claret that we enjoyed very much with dinner.
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It has been almost four years since my last tasting and my last notes on this wine, and it definitely is heading south. Decanted for a few hours, which may have been a mistake. Still has some soft tannins left but the fruit has mostly faded. It was an interesting wine to drink, with lots of "farm" aromas on the nose, but it is not the wine it once was. Note: I bought these second-hand about five years ago from a reputable merchant, but I can't vouch for how these bottles were stored.
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Wine soaked through cork at one point, cork now dry. A bit of crust on the top of the cork. Cork still firm when pulled. Allowed to decant for about 3 hours prior to serving. Wine is reddish with some orange to the ends. Very solid nose of red fruits, classic old bordeaux. This wine was fully mature and with decanting did not seem on the decline although I see no reason to hold the wine for any great length of time--this wine is ready to drink. Very little tannin left. Ate with grilled meats as part of a wine fiesta, this was the last red served. Everyone enjoyed although not anyone's favorite given some other wines served.
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Fill to shoulder, a bit brownish, not much nose, cork not in great shape -- should not then have been surprised that it had almost no fruit flavor left, over the hill, alas. Just as well this is the last of the case. A few years ago I had one from the same case that was in excellent shape, but not this one.
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Continues to be a real joy to drink. Perfect mature claret, displaying fully integrated tannins, great balance, a smooth velvety structure and a mix of dark fruits, cedar and leather. There is no harm in giving this 2-3h of slow-ox but I would not decant.
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Very top shoulder fill, the saturated cork came out in 2 pieces. Initially a sickly oxidized, dirty brown in appearance, with a very oxidized tomato, blood and iron nose. Subsequently decanted for 2 hours with excellent results. Color deepened and changed to more of a dark purple persona, with tawny edges. Marked tomato leaf on the nose, with tempered iron, cassis, blackberry, and leather. Though the fill was better, this was not quite as good as the same wine drank about 18 months ago on the occasion of my friend's delayed 50th celebration. Nonetheless, was quite good with the standing rib roast, even had a touch of tannins remaining, but was thoroughly overshadowed by the '61 Lynch Bages poured alongside. A fascinating juxtaposition!
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After about an hour the wine started to open up and blow off some of that funk. I enjoyed this wine, but I believe it is on the decline which is the reason I gave it an 88. If you have it, decant for about an hour before serving, and drink up. Will only continue in the downward direction.
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The ultimate Bordeaux comfort drink. A bit like a pair of old, comfy slippers... The tannins are fully resolved but the wine is holding up well: aromas of cedar, earth, some chocolate (?). Not very intense, so make sure to pair this with something appropriate (NOT a bbq sort of wine!).
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Very mature. Starting to go downhill. A very good wine, though. Complex and very Bordeaux. A bit sweet and oaky on the aftertaste (which is a bit short).
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Tasted blind. Quite a textbook Medoc on the mature nose with notes of currants, green bell pepper, pencil shavings, applecore, leafs and gravelly earth. Medium bodied and velvety smooth with some bright fruit left and a strong mineral presence of gravelly earth and salty vibes. Even surprisingly powerful finish. This was very good and very St.Julien, but had I any, I'd drown them in the near future.
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We had this bottle as part of a tasting. The cork partly crumbled when opening. I liked this wine more than some others. It was showing its age, but it had a surprisingly intensive core of fruit left. I really loved the aged aromas this wine expressed and as it sat in the glass for a better part of an hour, it did get better. It had an elderly elegance and civilized perspective about it and I really enjoyed it.
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Some older Bordeaux's and a few more: The cork crumbled on opening, so we decanted thru a strainer. Great showing for this bottle. Not a ton of fruit left, but there was some. It also held its own from the decanter for a couple of hours until drained. Rubby in color with some browning. The nose is earthy with fresh barnyard, dried leaves and some dried currants. On the palate, this fruit is more vibrant. A bit thin but with some depth. Well balanced. Nice finish. Went great with portobella mushroom linguini.
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Not as good as the previous bottle as it was more austere, tobacco and less fruits. A little more gamey. High acidity with cedary notes. Still drinking well.
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The first of 2 bottles I have, this was high shoulder, with a saturated cork with mold on top that basically came out in 2 pieces. A medium garnet with slight bricking around the edges, this gained weight the longer it was opened. Mature fruit with a pleasing touch of oxidation, along with eucalyptus, leather, tobacco, and currant. The real surprise was that this still has noticeable tannins, which propelled this through a strong mid-palate and into a lengthy finish. This acquitted itself very well on a birthday celebration evening that also featured a 2000 Cinq Cepages, 2002 Penfolds Bin 707, an '03 Chateau Plince, and an '03 O'Shaughnessy Howell Mtn. cab.
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Extremely pristine bottle; This started out a bit funky but eventually blossomed into a very good Bordeaux. It had typical Bdx tertiary aromas but the amount of bright fruit in this bottle was amazing. Ended up with a bang with minerals, cigar box and currant flavors. Fresh finish. My WOTN by a hair.
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Dinner Chez Rob & Lauryl: Great bottle as well. Took a few minutes to clean up after it came out of the bottle. Started really funky, but after it shook off the funk, the fruit was round and soft, and the tannins were barely there. Great freshness, and leather, cigar box, and a lot of minerality were all there. My runner-up WOTN last night.
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This is what Bordeaux is all about! The nose was an entire barnyard: hay, manure, animals, dampness. Settled down after about an hour. No decant. Consistent with notes from last month, but even better. Bottle was open longer, so it had more time to develop. Not quite right with turkey dinner, but I would galdly have skipped the dinner for this wine.
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A bit funky at initial opening, but by end of night pulled together for a fine bordeaux. WOTN by the end, but lagging in the initial flight. Still some life!
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Ducru Vertical (Lam Soon): Cat’s pee with some bread on the nose that evolves into green capsicum. Starting to wane with the last squeeze of dusty blueberry juice still in it. Graceful with age with a deathbed finish….taking its last breath.
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Ducru Beaucaillou Vertical (1978, '85, '86, '95 and '96, with a few extras) (Richfield, Lam Soon Building, Singapore): This seemed to be tiring slightly. Garnet and ruby tones, a bit murky. Lots of secondary barnyard and dust at first, but the funk blew off slightly and the wine showed rather typical tea-leaf and floral accents. Still noticeable tannins, but this had rounded off, and the wine had a soft feel. There was plenty of fresh acid on the palate, which had leather and spice flavours, but the fruit was extremely subdued, almost absent. Finish was satisfying, but not all too long. Decent wine.
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Nose was pure currant/cherry with earthiness and leather. Medium bodied with currant, licorice and leather dominating. Very elegant. I was surprised at the fruit in this wine, expected more secondary flavors in this wine (earth, cedar, etc) WOTN and that included 04 clio. Opened a couple of hours prior to decant and pouring.
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Degrezia, NYC (NYC): The Ducru had a rich ruby color with no sign of amber. The strong bouquet of black current was laced with truffles.This medium bodied wine with balanced tannin drank smooth, soft and elegant. I was surprised at how pure this bottle showed and the quality of the fruit.
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Even better than last bottle. Darker core with still brickish rim. Took 30mn to open and hold very good. At first light nose with green pepper and oak then full blossomed with tons of dark fruits, cedar, sweet violet and green pepper. Med body, slightly grainy, great balance with an awesome weight on the palate. Cassis, violet, cedar, green pepper..this is classic Bordeaux to me. Finish is long with still so much fruit mixed with cedar.
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The color is a medium jeweled ruby with some bricking. Nose of baking chocolate, soy, meat, anise, casssis and a nice mineral underpinning. The palate was medium full bodied and still for my palate at peak. Some cassis, plum, and blackberries with some St. julien violets and still some tannins that were nearly completely resolved. I am biased as this was my last blle of a wine I have loved for years. It was better a three years ago but still delicious. No powerhouse but a well made delicious bottle of wine 93 pts.
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wow...after 29 years this wine is still so fresh and full of ripe fruit. Didn't decant but opened 1h to let it breath. The nose is nice with ripe cassi, hint of blackberry, green pepper and cedar. In the mouth, litgh bodied, you find again the dark fruits (with also dark cherry) and the finish is long....30s + Tannins are very well integrated and acidity keeps the wine fresh.
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That '70's show...all '70's all the time: Loire, Spain, Ca, Bordeaux, Port. (Applewood): I thought I got an initial whiff of TCA, but with air, some of what I though was TCA funk turned more band-aidy/bretty and then the herbal note way back in my nostrils convinced me the wine was indeed just funky. Eventually, some fruit showed up on the nose and all was good. No cause for concern on the palate. A really well-stored bottle as it's showing quite youthfully both in the structure and in the sweetness of the cherry and currant fruit. Some nice dusty earth, underbrush and herbs round things out. A touch drying on the finish, but the finish was long, so while mature, I don't think the wine needs to be consumed in any rush. A-.
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Cork required some care for removal due to fragility. At first I was afraid this wine was way past its prime, but after about 30 minutes in the glass, it opened up nicely with black cherry fruit and soft tannins. Very nice finish. Time to drink for sure, but a very nice bottle.
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Drinking beautifully now. Still lots of power for a 27 year old wine, but the texture is smooth and refined. Stood toe to toe with a 1982 Cheval Blanc. Some people preferred the Cheval and others like me preferred the Ducru.
Had it on Drew's Bday. Grilled veal chops.
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Black currants, oak and coffee notes with a short, drying finish. Like most 78's, IMO, this will not improve and has already begun to drop its fruit. Drink up.
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Light red center, orange brown rim. Dense and powerful fragrance of Cabernet Sauvignon. Becomes sweeter in the glass. Dry tannic finish. Questionable whether fruit will outlive the tannin. Disappointing for Ducru. Improved after a couple hours in the glass, though.
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1978 Bordeaux Dinner at Mike's house-7 wines. The second best nose of the evening which was rich, almost perfumey fruit and hints of wood but took the most time to open, in the mouth the wine tasted intensely concentrated and very well balanced with a hint of aspergus like the Pichon Lalande and dill, viscous and long lasting flavors on the finish and aftertaste. Group 41 points-4th.
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Perfectly preserved classical St. Julien. Lovely fruit and oak. Long tannic finish. Perhaps 2-4 years from peak where its fine balance should sustain it for years.
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Medium ruby. Cedar bouquet of medium intensity. Medium weight, soft texture, not a wine of structure. Some tannin. Lacks intensity but makes up for that in elegance. Ready now.
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With MPL at S&F survey of '78 Bordeaux. Dark-medium ruby. Good nose, a bit closed. On the palate, very fine. Good body, great balance, and lots of sweet fruit that lasts and lasts. Silky and elegant. A Claret in every sense of the word and the best so far today. 5-11-18-8: 92/100.
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Color advancing towards maturity. Well developed aromas. Full fruit. Excellent classical Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. Good finish. Could become outstanding.
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1/6/2024 - Denis St Medard Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deuxième fois qu’on le déguste en trois semaines et toujours la même émotion : ce vin est tout en finesse et en élégance avec une belle acidité qui le maintient plus que vivant : nez sur le cuir et les notes de mousse et de sous-bois, milieu de bouche de bonne tenue mais sans être démonstratif et surtout très belle longueur pleine de charme, d’équilibre et de raffinement. Bref un grand et vieux cru classé bordeaux comme on les aime, qui arrive à faire se télescoper le passé et le présent dans un simple flacon de verre…Magique !
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11/11/2023 - Denis St Medard Likes this wine: 92 Points
Un grand cru de la rive gauche fidèle à son appellation : un nez de cuir et de mousse, une matière encore ample bien soutenue par une belle acidité, d’une certaine façon un vin imparfait mais avec un charme fou, qui est très digeste et encore bien vivant après 45 ans !
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1/21/2023 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
The 50 Big Bash (Harry's NYC): Drinks very much like a classic old Bordeaux with the leather and library and cigar smoke and all of that.
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12/15/2022 - dchain Likes this wine: 92 Points
From d-mg. Light ruby. So fragrant, lots of red cherry, black tea, forest floor, touch of leather and also white lily. No tertiary notes at all. On the palate it is medium bodied (in a good way!) and everything in harmony and balance and lovely freshness still. Wonderful and in this format plenty of life left in it!
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7/28/2022 - 10xM Likes this wine: 90 Points
Didnt have time to take notes much. Cedar, fruit, medium body, sediments at the bottom of the bottle. Balance of fruit and tertiary aromas.
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5/16/2022 - nywine68 wrote: 93 Points
St Julien Dinner at Nice Matin (New York, NY): Mystery vintage to complete a phenomenal line-up of Ducrus. This was fully mature, medium-bodied and showing tons of beautiful complexity. All the characteristics that were evident in this St Julien tasting: fragrant feminine wines with elegant cassis fruit.
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4/1/2022 - WhinyWiner Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fantastic wine. It was austere and not offering much at first, but started singing after 2.5 hours of air. Great wine.
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3/5/2022 - napasoutherner Likes this wine: 94 Points
Amazing to see how long this bottle has gone. Very milky and cloudy when viewed from glass but there was still some life in it. Light forest floor and cedar scents. Quick finish but was still fun to drink nearly a 45 year old Bordeaux
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3/19/2021 - Geoff7777 wrote:
1978 Bordeaux Lunch (Bel and Brio): Lighter in colour than the Pichon Lalande next to it but still a youthful scarlet. Nose of cigars, tobacco, violets, and blackberry with a capsicum overlay that receded with time in the glass. A classic left bank '78, slightly lean but delicious and ready to be enjoyed.
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9/28/2020 - dream Likes this wine: 93 Points
A stunningly perfect bottle of this wine that I would've thought on the
downswing by now. It's certainly '78 in style with a bit of green stalk but that gives way to a beautifully layered texture with classic aged Ducru flavors of cedar spice, tobacco and graphite minerals. Very fresh tasting with good balance and a superb aged silky texture. The finish is complex with fully-resolved tannins and wonderful notes of smoky minerals, bitter chocolate and grilled nuts. A very fine aged Bordeaux and a very surprising performance tonight. Drink up now for sure.
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9/9/2020 - europat55 wrote: 92 Points
Gorgeous (bretty) nose: A Very good to excellent palate: B+/B++
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8/12/2020 - MPC61 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Gorgeous color and drinking beautifully. Wonderful tannic structure and notes of cherry. A real treat.
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5/8/2020 - Thoughtful Likes this wine: 91 Points
Stored in cold cellar since release. Fill just below cork. Cedar wood bouquet. Excellent condition. Red brown colour. Tannin fully resolved. Good balance.
Lean and old fashioned in pre climate warming style. Highesh acidity.
No real complexity. Drink very soon
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4/14/2020 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deeper and more expressive than anticipated. Quite robust after 1.5 hours of air time.
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2/18/2020 - acyso wrote: 85 Points
Dinner at Margeaux Brasserie (Chicago, IL): Ah, these old Ducrus, you can never really tell if they're corked or not. This one definitely had some of those musty, dirty flavours on the palate, and while it wasn't TCA, it was definitely too close for comfort. Backwards, leathery, and dirty without any redeeming fruit or perfume, this is heavily rustic wine that just doesn't appeal to me.
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12/18/2019 - DaleW wrote:
double decanted before I went to party, black plum fruit, a slightly green but not unpleasant herb note, surprising tannins. A good enough mature claret. B
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11/10/2019 - grapenomad wrote: 94 Points
A real treat to taste and observe development. Fully at its prime now. Aromas of dried fig, dried cranberry, Earl Grey tea, mushrooms and old cigar box. Smooth and balanced, not lacking anything at this moment, but giving so much. I think the rich fruit concentration here is the main factor that keeps this wine together, while the acidity plays a background role. Long, savory finish. Top-notch quality from one of my favorite Bordeaux appellations.
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10/11/2019 - vinhonotte Likes this wine: 94 Points
Bordeaux 1978 Horizontal Tasting (New Ubin Seafood - Chijmes): Some really pretty roses and blackberries, and fungal notes. Power and tannins, as well as a lot of muscle and meats. Really lengthy at the back. Beautiful, classic St Julien
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9/20/2019 - salil wrote: flawed
:-| <--- this is my shocked face at a Ducru from the late 70s/early 80s being corked.
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9/20/2019 - acyso wrote: flawed
HDH auction at Spiaggia; 9/19/2019-9/21/2019 (Chicago, IL): Corked.
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6/26/2019 - DaleW wrote:
This seemed fine if a touch muted when double-decanted in afternoon, but seemed a little volatile and disjointed when first poured, but settled down a bit. Black fruit, cigarbox, not so long. B-
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6/8/2019 - Papies wrote: 94 Points
Tasted blind. We guessed bordeaux from the 80s, St Julien and went as far to pick t as a 1986 Talbot... When the year was reveled we went for Las Cases.
This is a very solid wine and among the better ones we have tried from 1978, elegant and well matured. Very pretty evolution, tertiary wine, still very much alive and full of charm if old wines is what one likes. WE loved it! 93-94
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9/25/2018 - Rick & Ilsa wrote: 90 Points
From bottle purchased at auction many years ago, initial storage of this bottle is unknown. Smells and tastes of dark fruit and red berries, leather, earth, cigar box, smoke, bordeaux dust, and a bit of spice, with tertiary notes obvious. Fragile wine that because of previous experience I slow ox-ed for an hour without decanting. Past its prime, (at least this bottle) and fading after 3 hours in the glass this was still enjoyable with a cheese, beef and baguette plate. Anytime you get to drink a 40 year old bottle of classified Bordeaux that isn't corked, it's a good night.
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8/25/2018 - Aravind Asok wrote:
Nice, if slightly over the hill btl of mature ducru. Slightly less refined than the 75 I had about a year ago, but tertiary notes with cedar and charcoal, plus dried blackberry. On the palate, faded, but still some nice charcoal and herbs. Paired well with the beef.
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9/30/2017 - paulst Likes this wine: 92 Points
Light and sweet; blackberry; earth; mature; sweet finish.
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6/11/2017 - d'Auvenay Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened 6 magnums (owc in pristine conditions) and aired in bottle for 3 hours before drinking. Leather, berry, earth and some mint. Couldn't finish all wines because opened a total of 60+ bottles of different wines for the evening. Put the cork back on for 2 of the barely touched magnums and tried the following evening. They were still very drinkable even kept in warm room temperature. Kept some wine left for one more evening, and it began oxidizing though still borderline drinkable. Amazed how long the wine can last at that age. With such condition, the wine should be able to last for another 5-10 years especially in large format. Will save my other owc-magnum for couple more years.
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3/18/2017 - MAOC wrote:
Decanted right before serving as first bottle was corked. Faded garnet colour. A bit of coaxing revealed a beautiful profile of faded dark red fruit with cedar, leather and a bit of damp earth emerging. Mellow and very St Julien, this was drinking really well now. ****+
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2/23/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Small Plates and Mix of Aged Wines (Craig & Nita's Place): Very dark red color. PNP, drank 1 glass over an hour. Dark red fruits here, more rustic, more spicy and the wood signature is more prominent, wood spices, a bit angular on the finish.
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5/27/2016 - lesz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still very good
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3/16/2016 - Alex H wrote: 84 Points
SLightly lamed and crippled with sous bois ， stewed overnight plums and tired currants.
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3/10/2016 - Wineteacher Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cork came out ok. Decanted. Lighter color but only with a hint of tile. The bouquet was huge. Big perfume. Beautiful bouquet of cedar, spices and classic maturity flavors. Lighter texture but beautiful St Julien. Elegant to the core.
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2/15/2016 - reaston Likes this wine:
Drinking well
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1/8/2016 - PanosKakaviatos wrote: flawed
Annual holiday dinner with DC winos: fabulous wines kick off 2016! (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): OK, yes this turned out to be slightly corked. When I first took a whiff, I thought it seemed off, but there were signs of faded rose that are so typical of Ducru and I instead focused on these... Opened after the LLC 1978 and the difference was palpable. The LLC was far more firm, Pauillac like, while the Ducru more delicate if a bit musty. I thought it was better on the palate, but indeed, the mustiness detracted quite a bit, making it simply a flawed bottle. Alas.
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12/5/2015 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Zachys Holiday Auction - Winter 2015 (Smith & Wollensky (48th & 3rd Ave)): I really enjoyed this. Very nicely aged, leather, saddle, green pepper, soft. Everything was integrated together and just drinking very nicely. Would be surprised if this was heading towards peak soon, but have less knowledge of Bordeaux so just a supposition.
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11/24/2015 - MEKWINE wrote: 86 Points
RSJ IAN A's Greatest Hits of 1970's: underwhelming and not as interesting as the bottle we had in March of this year. Pity.
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5/11/2015 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 92 Points
Upper shoulder, good cork and 2 hour near clean (crusted) decant.
Initial strong aroma of stewed plum and truffle, balanced by pouring time by smokiness and cooked red berry fruit.
Perfectly maturity, concentration of the fruit aromas on the palate in a medium bodied frame of integrated charred oak. Excellent length, racy and superb.
See little point in holding - it's not going to improve - but equally should remain on this plateau of excellence for another two to three years with this structure.
Sadly my last.
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3/20/2015 - MEKWINE Likes this wine: 90 Points
The ullage was pretty good for this 37 year old wine, the label a little damaged and the cork crumbly, but the contents of the bottle were rewarding on the night. Deep robe and garnet rim. Fully matured, with tertiary notes of earth and gravel and a feint cedary. A distinctive peppery note of the cabernet franc and perhaps petit verdot (clearly predates the uprooting of these two varietals in Ducru's vineyards). Mid-length finish.
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3/20/2015 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 90 Points
Earthy, soy, saddle leather, lead pencil, dark chocolate and aged leather notes - you know the chocolate you might hypothetically find behind the sofa, which has been there for years, the hallmark of an old wine - but still this is a dignified wine, with cedar, a fair bit of lead pencil and some residual fruit, now fading graciously into the shimmering sunset. At 37 years of age this bottle was still delightful while still showing its age. Different bottles in different formats could be more profound.
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2/15/2015 - NickBurwood Likes this wine: 91 Points
My 1000th tasting note!
Bottle superficially looked as though it had been in the wars - but level was good and cork in A1 condition. 90 minute (almost clean) decant.
Deep brickish red with significant clear edges in glass. Ripe red fruits, truffle and earthy aromas; in the mouth medium bodied, ripe catty wild strawberries and some hedge berries, a touch of hazel, capsicum with dusty tannins brought together by an assertive but integrated acidity. Clearly past its absolute best by perhaps 5-10 years but nonetheless still excellent with the grip to accompany our roast duck to perfection.
Drink up soon while still in a good place.
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12/28/2014 - Lazerlar Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fill into the neck, opened for 2 hours then decanted just prior to serving. Medium body with smooth earthy flavors. not much fruit left.
Enjoyed but time to drink up
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12/19/2014 - CellarBord Likes this wine:
Wines from the 70's: 1975 Prieure-Lichine, 1976 Cos d'Estournel, 1978 Ducru-Beaucaillou & 1979 Leoville Las Cases.
My #2 wine of the night. Bold aromas. Earth, medium to big taste. Still holding up. Not as polished as the 1976 Cos d'Estournel. I would have again. Decant 1 hour. Great with the Roast Loin of Lamb with Mushroom Duxelle and Morel Demi-Glace.
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12/19/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 91 Points
Decent nose; somewhat coarse; blackberry and earth; nice.
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10/17/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Elegant light and mature; soft and earthy with blackberry; fades a bit on the finish.
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10/15/2014 - J83K wrote: 89 Points
Appearance: Hazy/dull, med + intensity, garnet
Nose: clean, med + inten., tired., aromas of grn pepper, sav spice, vegetal, oak, herbs, dried/madierized red and black fruit
Palate: dry, med acidity, med tannin, med alcohol, body med +, med + flavour inten, flavours of vegetal, grn pepper, stem, pith, sav spice (card., licori., old pepper) gamey -aged meat, and a touch medicinal. Length med
Quality good to very good
Too old -drink now
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10/10/2014 - europat55 wrote: 93 Points
Platinum Tasting - Best of the Bests (Andre and Sabine's House, Mountain View, CA): Nice browning on the edges. Gorgeous Bordeaux nose (A-/A). Palate was outstanding at the beginning, but quickly faded in the glass (A- --> B++).
My #2, Group's #5 (85 pts). Tasted Blind.
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6/2/2014 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
1978 Medoc Horizontal (The Ledbury, London): Warmer than the preceding Palmer and Margaux, and elusive. Fine and balanced, perhaps a bit too polite
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6/2/2014 - SimonG wrote: 94 Points
1978 Bordeaux @ Ledbury (The Ledbury): Quite fresh on the nose. Cedar and maybe a touch of green pepper. Sweet-fruited, a little less harmonious and smooth than the Palmer, but in its way almost as good. Fresh, cedary, sweet red fruit. Long and elegant. ****1/2
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5/25/2014 - Wineguy76 Likes this wine: 94 Points
A superbly mature Ducru Beaucaillou from an exceptionally well kept bottle. Opaque red colour with signs of amber aging on the rims. Elegant vegetal aromas with notes of tobacco and damp earth as well as some fig and raisins. On the palate the wine still holds a remarkable amount of fruit in the form of black currant and plum, but also boasts wonderfully intertwined layers of caramel, vanillin, moccha and mild spice. The texture is still wonderfully unctuous and the tannins holding amazingly well, leading to a delightful 40 second plus finish. A great wine nearing the end of its peak. Drink up!
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4/17/2014 - liber Likes this wine: 91 Points
11th of 12, decanted 30 minutes, level into neck, med brick red, lightening with browning rim, lovely complex nose, black fruits, graphite, some cedar, less exciting on palate, med, long, nice structure but fruit lacking - rainy August catching up on it - drink up. Very good indeed (17/20).
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12/17/2013 - Wine_lvr wrote: flawed
Pre-Christmas Dinner with Friends (Zurich): Tasted blind: To bottle was a text book example of a TCA wine but I am excited about tasting this wine as below the "stench" it showed nice flavors. The color was still very "youtful"...one to retaste....
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12/2/2013 - lesz Likes this wine: 90 Points
Fading but still very good
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11/17/2013 - Concordlexington Likes this wine: 90 Points
I was nervous about this wine given its age (contrary to popular opinion, not all wines get better with age, especially if they are not stored properly). I was afraid my first sip would taste like a tablespoon of vinegar. I was very happy to be wrong. This wine was still very,very drinkable, in fact, it was quite refreshing. It made me realize that I need to learn more about french wines.
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5/24/2013 - oldwines Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fully mature Bordeaux, but still pleasant and lively. Color is brick red as expected. Nose is initially very earthy/barnyard but with air it becomes rather rich, round, leathery and chocolatey with just a hint of dark fruit. Flavor is austere at first but again with some air gets a bit rounder, though dominated by the secondary flavors like cedar and juniper and only a little fruit, mostly cassis. Another lesson that even old wines sometimes need a few hour to breathe. This one kept developing favorably through the fourth hour after decanting.
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5/23/2013 - ilee Likes this wine: 90 Points
Dinner at home with Mrs L, Thomas and Carman (Hong Kong): A very curious wine this one! Popped and poured single-blind alongside the 1970 Palmer, this one came across smelling..well.. shall i say.. old. Wet forest floor, damp cardboard, mushroom, not the most attractive -- and where's the damn fruit?! But on the palate -- huh! Beautifully woven notes of blackberries and dried currants -- "there it is!" as my lovely 2-year old daughter Bridget would say when she spots her favourite blanket. If anyone is searching for a wine that tastes much better than it smells, that search should end here -- with the 1978 ducru!
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3/23/2013 - godx wrote: 92 Points
Dinner at Alvin's (Vancouver, BC): Tasted blind – this was easy to peg as Bordeaux with its classic claret notes of bell pepper, maturing red fruits and leathery cedar. Fully resolved with fairly lively acidity that gives lift and energy. At peak and drinking very well right now. Excellent.
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3/7/2013 - rjonwine@gmail.com wrote: 91 Points
Bricked medium brown red color; very mature, tobacco, cedar nose; cedar, tobacco, lightly meaty palate; medium-plus finish
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2/18/2013 - wallstreet wrote: 89 Points
This bottle showed better than the one I had 2011. While wine delivered a nice experience, it lacked that Bordeaux wow factor you get from a nicely aged bottle. Decent, but no fireworks.
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1/1/2013 - meqoubal36 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fruit très présent, d'une jeunesse insolente. Equilibre parfait entre tains intégrés, acidité et fruité (airelle, framboise, fruits rouges). Bonne acidité de fond qui laisse augurer qu'il tiendra encore quelques années. Excellent vin.
Perfect balance, very good taste (berrys, very young). A marvel !
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12/17/2012 - hkm520240 wrote: 93 Points
Dark ruby core with brick red hue. Beautiful nose of subtle sweet tobacco, dried fruits, blackcurrant and dried herbs with an elegant touch and no sign of going downhill.
The palate is full of secondary notes, with sweet tobacco, earth and cedar oak. Still posses a powerful palate and holding amazingly well tonight. Long aftertaste with fine tannins and a soft grip.I enjoyed it alot and it is the favourite wines of all tonight.
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12/15/2012 - prof b Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tenure Celebration: For most, this was the wotn. A nearly perfect fill and a cork that might have seeped a tiny bit but was removed without too much trouble. The Ducru was very savory, reminding me of soy or even a mild beef broth. There was a hint of prune juice hiding in there but otherwise the fruit was gone. This wine really lingered on the palate and evolved within the glass as long as I could keep from finishing it off. Gorgeous.
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7/14/2012 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
From magnum this was Bright, fresh and energetic. There are some cedar, graphite and leather smells along with a suggestion of cassis fruit. It is nicely proportioned with flavours that are crisp and detailed and a structure that gives support to the overall package. Lovely luncheon claret that we enjoyed very much with dinner.
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5/19/2012 - JimN wrote: 88 Points
It has been almost four years since my last tasting and my last notes on this wine, and it definitely is heading south. Decanted for a few hours, which may have been a mistake. Still has some soft tannins left but the fruit has mostly faded. It was an interesting wine to drink, with lots of "farm" aromas on the nose, but it is not the wine it once was. Note: I bought these second-hand about five years ago from a reputable merchant, but I can't vouch for how these bottles were stored.
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4/29/2012 - jklaw7 wrote: 92 Points
Wine soaked through cork at one point, cork now dry. A bit of crust on the top of the cork. Cork still firm when pulled. Allowed to decant for about 3 hours prior to serving. Wine is reddish with some orange to the ends. Very solid nose of red fruits, classic old bordeaux. This wine was fully mature and with decanting did not seem on the decline although I see no reason to hold the wine for any great length of time--this wine is ready to drink. Very little tannin left. Ate with grilled meats as part of a wine fiesta, this was the last red served. Everyone enjoyed although not anyone's favorite given some other wines served.
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4/21/2012 - wbq8f wrote: 80 Points
Fill to shoulder, a bit brownish, not much nose, cork not in great shape -- should not then have been surprised that it had almost no fruit flavor left, over the hill, alas. Just as well this is the last of the case. A few years ago I had one from the same case that was in excellent shape, but not this one.
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1/23/2012 - don_quichotte wrote: 92 Points
Continues to be a real joy to drink. Perfect mature claret, displaying fully integrated tannins, great balance, a smooth velvety structure and a mix of dark fruits, cedar and leather. There is no harm in giving this 2-3h of slow-ox but I would not decant.
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12/8/2011 - wicozani wrote: 85 Points
Yet another 50th Birthday Extravaganza (Home): Part of my 50th birthday celebration, decanted and poured alongside a '61 Lynch Bages and '06 Poggio Brunello di Montalcino.
Very top shoulder fill, the saturated cork came out in 2 pieces. Initially a sickly oxidized, dirty brown in appearance, with a very oxidized tomato, blood and iron nose. Subsequently decanted for 2 hours with excellent results. Color deepened and changed to more of a dark purple persona, with tawny edges. Marked tomato leaf on the nose, with tempered iron, cassis, blackberry, and leather. Though the fill was better, this was not quite as good as the same wine drank about 18 months ago on the occasion of my friend's delayed 50th celebration. Nonetheless, was quite good with the standing rib roast, even had a touch of tannins remaining, but was thoroughly overshadowed by the '61 Lynch Bages poured alongside. A fascinating juxtaposition!
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8/31/2011 - mwanasheria wrote: 92 Points
Very good Ducru with dark fruit, cassis, leather, some smoke.
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8/27/2011 - wallstreet wrote: 88 Points
After about an hour the wine started to open up and blow off some of that funk. I enjoyed this wine, but I believe it is on the decline which is the reason I gave it an 88. If you have it, decant for about an hour before serving, and drink up. Will only continue in the downward direction.
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8/18/2011 - Peppe wrote:
Stefano's Grouse shoot.
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7/21/2011 - bugsymalone42 wrote: 90 Points
First time I have had a wine of this age. Still drank outstanfingly well. Tertiary notes to be enjoyed!
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6/28/2011 - lesz wrote: 88 Points
Bob thought flawed-vegatable
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6/20/2011 - don_quichotte wrote: 92 Points
The ultimate Bordeaux comfort drink. A bit like a pair of old, comfy slippers... The tannins are fully resolved but the wine is holding up well: aromas of cedar, earth, some chocolate (?). Not very intense, so make sure to pair this with something appropriate (NOT a bbq sort of wine!).
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4/19/2011 - don_quichotte wrote: 91 Points
From a high-fill bottle.
Drinking very well. Classic high quality mature claret: tobacco, cedar and earth. Pretty sweet.
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12/5/2010 - mmh wrote: 91 Points
Very mature. Starting to go downhill. A very good wine, though. Complex and very Bordeaux. A bit sweet and oaky on the aftertaste (which is a bit short).
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12/3/2010 - avp wrote:
Tasted blind. Quite a textbook Medoc on the mature nose with notes of currants, green bell pepper, pencil shavings, applecore, leafs and gravelly earth.
Medium bodied and velvety smooth with some bright fruit left and a strong mineral presence of gravelly earth and salty vibes. Even surprisingly powerful finish.
This was very good and very St.Julien, but had I any, I'd drown them in the near future.
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12/3/2010 - VHJV wrote: 93 Points
We had this bottle as part of a tasting. The cork partly crumbled when opening. I liked this wine more than some others. It was showing its age, but it had a surprisingly intensive core of fruit left. I really loved the aged aromas this wine expressed and as it sat in the glass for a better part of an hour, it did get better. It had an elderly elegance and civilized perspective about it and I really enjoyed it.
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9/26/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 93 Points
Some older Bordeaux's and a few more: The cork crumbled on opening, so we decanted thru a strainer. Great showing for this bottle. Not a ton of fruit left, but there was some. It also held its own from the decanter for a couple of hours until drained. Rubby in color with some browning. The nose is earthy with fresh barnyard, dried leaves and some dried currants. On the palate, this fruit is more vibrant. A bit thin but with some depth. Well balanced. Nice finish. Went great with portobella mushroom linguini.
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3/28/2010 - french16 wrote:
Not as good as the previous bottle as it was more austere, tobacco and less fruits. A little more gamey. High acidity with cedary notes.
Still drinking well.
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3/7/2010 - wicozani wrote: 91 Points
The first of 2 bottles I have, this was high shoulder, with a saturated cork with mold on top that basically came out in 2 pieces. A medium garnet with slight bricking around the edges, this gained weight the longer it was opened. Mature fruit with a pleasing touch of oxidation, along with eucalyptus, leather, tobacco, and currant. The real surprise was that this still has noticeable tannins, which propelled this through a strong mid-palate and into a lengthy finish. This acquitted itself very well on a birthday celebration evening that also featured a 2000 Cinq Cepages, 2002 Penfolds Bin 707, an '03 Chateau Plince, and an '03 O'Shaughnessy Howell Mtn. cab.
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12/5/2009 - EGunderson wrote: 85 Points
Cork destroyed, ok after a quick filtering but died fast. Smell was really nice, the rest just so so.
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9/29/2009 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
Ducru-Beaucaillou 1961 to 2004 over dinner (Hawksmoor, Spitalfields, London): The only wine to show any funk, and not much of it, deep, gamey, racy, still very lively.
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5/30/2009 - Winetex wrote: 93 Points
Extremely pristine bottle; This started out a bit funky but eventually blossomed into a very good Bordeaux. It had typical Bdx tertiary aromas but the amount of bright fruit in this bottle was amazing. Ended up with a bang with minerals, cigar box and currant flavors. Fresh finish. My WOTN by a hair.
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5/30/2009 - steffenpelz wrote:
Dinner Chez Rob & Lauryl: Great bottle as well. Took a few minutes to clean up after it came out of the bottle. Started really funky, but after it shook off the funk, the fruit was round and soft, and the tannins were barely there. Great freshness, and leather, cigar box, and a lot of minerality were all there. My runner-up WOTN last night.
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11/27/2008 - JimN wrote: 94 Points
This is what Bordeaux is all about! The nose was an entire barnyard: hay, manure, animals, dampness. Settled down after about an hour. No decant. Consistent with notes from last month, but even better. Bottle was open longer, so it had more time to develop. Not quite right with turkey dinner, but I would galdly have skipped the dinner for this wine.
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11/18/2008 - JimN wrote: 92 Points
A bit funky at initial opening, but by end of night pulled together for a fine bordeaux. WOTN by the end, but lagging in the initial flight. Still some life!
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8/3/2008 - Alex H wrote: 84 Points
Ducru Vertical (Lam Soon): Cat’s pee with some bread on the nose that evolves into green capsicum. Starting to wane with the last squeeze of dusty blueberry juice still in it. Graceful with age with a deathbed finish….taking its last breath.
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8/2/2008 - Paul S wrote: 90 Points
Ducru Beaucaillou Vertical (1978, '85, '86, '95 and '96, with a few extras) (Richfield, Lam Soon Building, Singapore): This seemed to be tiring slightly. Garnet and ruby tones, a bit murky. Lots of secondary barnyard and dust at first, but the funk blew off slightly and the wine showed rather typical tea-leaf and floral accents. Still noticeable tannins, but this had rounded off, and the wine had a soft feel. There was plenty of fresh acid on the palate, which had leather and spice flavours, but the fruit was extremely subdued, almost absent. Finish was satisfying, but not all too long. Decent wine.
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5/23/2008 - dky wrote: 92 Points
Nose was pure currant/cherry with earthiness and leather. Medium bodied with currant, licorice and leather dominating. Very elegant. I was surprised at the fruit in this wine, expected more secondary flavors in this wine (earth, cedar, etc) WOTN and that included 04 clio. Opened a couple of hours prior to decant and pouring.
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1/26/2008 - gsquireh wrote: 92 Points
Degrezia, NYC (NYC): The Ducru had a rich ruby color with no sign of amber. The strong bouquet of black current was laced with truffles.This medium bodied wine with balanced tannin drank smooth, soft and elegant. I was surprised at how pure this bottle showed and the quality of the fruit.
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12/31/2007 - french16 wrote: 94 Points
Even better than last bottle. Darker core with still brickish rim. Took 30mn to open and hold very good. At first light nose with green pepper and oak then full blossomed with tons of dark fruits, cedar, sweet violet and green pepper.
Med body, slightly grainy, great balance with an awesome weight on the palate. Cassis, violet, cedar, green pepper..this is classic Bordeaux to me. Finish is long with still so much fruit mixed with cedar.
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2/19/2007 - Kiat wrote: 93 Points
had with CT on dark and stormy nite at le pont de vie. wonderful elegance.
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2/10/2007 - cct wrote: 93 Points
The color is a medium jeweled ruby with some bricking. Nose of baking chocolate, soy, meat, anise, casssis and a nice mineral underpinning. The palate was medium full bodied and still for my palate at peak. Some cassis, plum, and blackberries with some St. julien violets and still some tannins that were nearly completely resolved. I am biased as this was my last blle of a wine I have loved for years. It was better a three years ago but still delicious. No powerhouse but a well made delicious bottle of wine 93 pts.
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1/22/2007 - french16 wrote: 93 Points
wow...after 29 years this wine is still so fresh and full of ripe fruit.
Didn't decant but opened 1h to let it breath.
The nose is nice with ripe cassi, hint of blackberry, green pepper and cedar.
In the mouth, litgh bodied, you find again the dark fruits (with also dark cherry) and the finish is long....30s +
Tannins are very well integrated and acidity keeps the wine fresh.
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1/16/2007 - BradKNYC wrote:
That '70's show...all '70's all the time: Loire, Spain, Ca, Bordeaux, Port. (Applewood): I thought I got an initial whiff of TCA, but with air, some of what I though was TCA funk turned more band-aidy/bretty and then the herbal note way back in my nostrils convinced me the wine was indeed just funky. Eventually, some fruit showed up on the nose and all was good. No cause for concern on the palate. A really well-stored bottle as it's showing quite youthfully both in the structure and in the sweetness of the cherry and currant fruit. Some nice dusty earth, underbrush and herbs round things out. A touch drying on the finish, but the finish was long, so while mature, I don't think the wine needs to be consumed in any rush. A-.
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8/9/2006 - bcsharpe wrote: 85 Points
Cork required some care for removal due to fragility. At first I was afraid this wine was way past its prime, but after about 30 minutes in the glass, it opened up nicely with black cherry fruit and soft tannins. Very nice finish. Time to drink for sure, but a very nice bottle.
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4/2/2006 - JLeader wrote: 91 Points
Very nice Bordeaux. Completely mature and silky. Dark cherry and cassis, with just a hint of sweetness.
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8/13/2005 - Jay A wrote: 93 Points
Drinking beautifully now. Still lots of power for a 27 year old wine, but the texture is smooth and refined. Stood toe to toe with a 1982 Cheval Blanc. Some people preferred the Cheval and others like me preferred the Ducru.
Had it on Drew's Bday. Grilled veal chops.
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5/17/2004 - Jeff Leve wrote: 86 Points
Black currants, oak and coffee notes with a short, drying finish. Like most 78's, IMO, this will not improve and has already begun to drop its fruit. Drink up.
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3/1/2000 - sdr Likes this wine: 90 Points
Garnet orange. Attractive complex aromas. Light - medium body. Softening up. Really quite attractive. A successful ‘78.
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5/1/1993 - sdr wrote: 85 Points
Medium dark ruby, orange rim. Fairly open but a little green. Typical hard firm fruit of this stern vintage. Tight. Doubt this will improve.
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1/1/1992 - sdr wrote: 82 Points
Light red center, orange brown rim. Dense and powerful fragrance of Cabernet Sauvignon. Becomes sweeter in the glass. Dry tannic finish. Questionable whether fruit will outlive the tannin. Disappointing for Ducru. Improved after a couple hours in the glass, though.
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9/21/1990 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
1978 Bordeaux Dinner at Mike's house-7 wines. The second best nose of the evening which was rich, almost perfumey fruit and hints of wood but took the most time to open, in the mouth the wine tasted intensely concentrated and very well balanced with a hint of aspergus like the Pichon Lalande and dill, viscous and long lasting flavors on the finish and aftertaste. Group 41 points-4th.
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9/1/1990 - sdr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Perfectly preserved classical St. Julien. Lovely fruit and oak. Long tannic finish. Perhaps 2-4 years from peak where its fine balance should sustain it for years.
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3/1/1990 - sdr Likes this wine: 88 Points
Medium ruby. Cedar bouquet of medium intensity. Medium weight, soft texture, not a wine of structure. Some tannin. Lacks intensity but makes up for that in elegance. Ready now.
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10/21/1989 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 92 Points
With MPL at S&F survey of '78 Bordeaux. Dark-medium ruby. Good nose, a bit closed. On the palate, very fine. Good body, great balance, and lots of sweet fruit that lasts and lasts. Silky and elegant. A Claret in every sense of the word and the best so far today. 5-11-18-8: 92/100.
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2/1/1989 - sdr Likes this wine: 92 Points
Color advancing towards maturity. Well developed aromas. Full fruit. Excellent classical Cabernet Sauvignon fruit. Good finish. Could become outstanding.
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