HWS Bordeaux 2009 vs 2010 (By me): The bouquet is still a bit reticent but shows dark and red berries, beautiful oak and cigar box flavors. On the palate dark and red berries, some bell pepper, juicy and beautiful acidity and a slight, pleasant touch of sweetness in the finish. Still in its early youth. Will probably show more finesse round 2030.
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Minimal decant. Dark burgundy color. Nose is of cherries compote, truffles, pencil lead and anise note. Palate medium bodied, balanced sweetness and acidity, soft tannins, dark fruit with some secondary development. Held up well on 2nd day. Finish is medium.
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26022023 - 5 ⭐️ luncheon hosted by SKT with 14 bottles of wines & 2 aged cognacs. Our 2nd round of 4 bottles tasted blind curated by SKT. Horizontal 2010 from 4 great producers. Loved this. Plenty of dark fruit, cassis, cigar box, dark chocolate & dried tobacco. Medium bold wine with plenty of depths and textures. Finish is still fruit forward & can easily age for another 5-10 yrs. A top 2nd label
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Very delicious '10 Croix de Beaucaillou, 2. wine from Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien. 👁 Glittering dark red. 👃 Black conserved fruit; cassis, blackberries & plums. Slightly dusty notes; fine tobacco, licorice, suede, pencil and fine-tuned oak. 👅 Perfectly balanced; still fresh & fruity, smooth yet dry, softened tannins. A great mouthful all the way. 🎯 High quality wine. Nice experience at this stage, buy potential for another 5-10y!
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Monthly Tuesday group "The Dead Sparrow";Bordeaux 2009 vs 2010 (By JS): In the complex and beautiful bouquet dark berries and chocolate, coffee, chocolate and laurel. Same on the palate, coffee, a lot of juicy acidity, dark berries and sweet spices. Very beautiful wine with an enormous length and with a long future.
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Drinking good now. Cork was really lose, kinda slipped out very easy. Nice on nose and palette. *Autumnal spices, nice subdued fruit and forest floor (geomycin). Great bottle and from a great estate. Showing very well.
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Medium plus nose shows gorgeous style, fresh herbs, dried black fruits, pencil shavings, turned earth. Palate gives immediate smooth complexity, lovely layers, dark fruits, elegant structure, dry finish. Should be terrific with proteins. Nice place between age and still having years ahead of it.
80/20 Cabernet/Merlot.
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My best friends pension (@ PdV): In the complex bouquet dark berries, tobacco, chocolate, sweet spices and graphite. On the palate juicy dark berries, chocolate, beautifully ripe and round tannin. Beautiful and luxurious wine in a beautiful drinking stage already, but can last for many more years. 93 -94 for now.
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Special occasion with close friends from the 1980's (@ My place): In the bouquet beautiful dark berries, sweet spices like cinnamon and blackberry marmalade. On the palate juicy dark berries, bell pepper, beautiful acidity and firm but round tannin. Beautiful wine entering its young maturity stage. 94+
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Garnet in color, high maturity vintage, concentrated complex aromatics, med+ body and tannins, pretty pointed acidity, hint of balsamic, powerful - grab some if you can.
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Decanted 1 -3 hours. Very refreshing aroma, black fruit, graphite, cocoa, vanilla and a hint of clove and licorice. Very smooth with a little spice on the finish. Medium to light body, short finish. Went great with a medium-rare/rare steak. Definitely would have again.
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Excellent again , one year after my last tasting and this wine is flying high. Not as light and fruity as the last tasting.. heavier and darker in style. Tar, liquorice, dark fruits. Noticeably better on the second night , go for a long decant if possible. I’ve just purchased a few bottles of the 2016 vintage , very much looking forward to popping a cork , but this 2010 is seriously good. Enjoy :)
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I’ve had 2 bottles of this excellent second wine. Most recently popped and poured, which was a mistake. Very, very young. Patience required. Start drinking remaining bottles 2023.
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This was lovely straight out of the bottle, no long decant needed to start enjoying the rich nose of forest floor and peppermint. Cassis and blackberry came through with more time in the air. Somewhere in the middle after about 2 hours decant a muddled vanilla note marred the balance, but this was short lived.
Mouth was beautifully balanced, subtle tannins and medium-short length.
Overall really lovely at this stage.
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Beautiful wine that is drinking very well now. This has the power and crunchy acidity of the vintage with great freshness and delicious black cherry fruit. The tannins are silky with good grip and the finish is quite complex with notes of gravel, cedar and licorice. This is a superb bottle of Bordeaux for drinking now and over the next 5 -10 years.
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James Suckling says this is Ducru’s second wine. Wine Enthusiast says this is no longer their second wine. Wine Spectator says it’s no longer their second wine...per se. I believe the issue in question is where the fruit is sourced from and it appears the fruit is no longer sourced from the same vineyards as the grand vin, thus the reticence to actually call it a true second wine. Call it what you will, it’s delightful. Exhibiting a lovely finesse and balance, the nose is chalk full of mint, clove, red cherries, and tobacco. On the palate ripe blackberries, cherries, and hen of the wood. Fine grained tannins with great balance, this is very drinkable at this point in its lifespan. Medium-bodied, relatively light on its feet, and delicious. Fun Fact: Croix no longer shares a common label with the grand vin; the new label (in picture) being an entirely fresh and unique approach using a design concocted by Jade Jagger, daughter of Mick Jagger.
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A good representative of St. Julien. Full black fruit at the start with some menthol, pencil, and more subtle red fruit on the back end. Ready now but should last another 5 years.
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Very nice ! Raspberry and cherry. well ballenced medium bodied light and fruity with complex aroma and pallet. Recommend to those who like a lighter style of Bordeaux.
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Somewhat muted on opening, cherries and raspberry. Over the evening menthol and graphite shows. Mouth a little acidic to begin. not perfectly balanced but pretty good.
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Vau, kypsä ja synkän marjainen tuoksu jo avaamisesta. Tanniinit aluksi tiukat, mutta jo n. tunnin jälkeen pehmenivät silkkiseksi ja suutuntuma on juuri sopivassa tasapainossa keskitäyteläisen ja täyteläisen väliltä. Tuoksu kehittyi n. 3 tunnin ajan kohti kypsää medocin laatuviiniä: lyijykynää, puuterista tammea, kypsää mustaherukkaa, vähän lakritsia ja pippuria. Jälkimaku kohtalaisen pitkä.
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Still quite primary but the tannins are more or less resolved. Still has a bit of acid for structure and has many years left. Drinking very well now, classic medium-full bodied claret.
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Lovely fruit quality here - class of the 2010 vintage comes through strongly; smooth, good core of rich fruit on the palate. Needs more time but showing its potential tonight.
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Unexpectedly good. Would have needed some more time but still has the complexity of more mature French Bordeaux. Dark blackberry , smoked notes and a hint of pepper.
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First coravinned pour, single blind tasted against the 2009 Croix de Beaucaillou. The 2010 had a more Pauillac personality with more black fruit such as blackberry, pencil lead, dark oak, and a masculine palate. I was able to successfully guess which was which based on those traits.
For me, the palate is not quite ready, with a lot of tightness and tannins, and definitely benefits with air. However, the nose is just wondrous. So much complexity and evolution occurred with 4 hours of air. At times there was more red fruit, black cherry, and blue fruit notes, I got black pepper, different shades of oak and cigar, some dried herbs.
The 2010, for me is better than the 2009. I do agree that the 2009s in general are a bit nicer on the palate now, but the nose complexity of the 2010s is just amazing at this stage. And the 2010s seems destined to eclipse the 2009 in every way in the long term.
I tried the 2010 Grand Vin at a release tasting and it was really phenomenal. I'm really looking forward to trying it again soon. I think the 2010 Croix is actually more complex on the nose than the 2009 Grand Vin tried last week, but the 2009 Grand Vin is better on the palate, and it is a more pleasurable to drink now. They are all fabulous though.
Soft nose of roses opens up and livens with more air. Palate has a lovely juiciness with more acidity than you would expect with dried blackberries, white pepper, and wet leather that rounds out nicely with a dry ripe raspberry finish. After some air the palate showed a tart cherry element with woodsy wet tobacco. I would sit on this one for at least a couple more years in search of the more refined feel of older Ducru Beacaillou. I honestly have only had DB from the 80s so am not sure how the younger vintages compare to their secondary wine.
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Bordeaux: Second wines in great vintages. (Valuas): In the bouquet beautiful dark berry fruits like blackberries and cassis. On the palate good acidity, dark chocolate, dark berries, chocolate and some good oak and acidity. Beautiful and youthful wine. 93 - 94
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Graphite, green pepper, black cherry, floral, and blackberry scents. Medium/full body, good acidity and balance. Finish is medium length. Overall, this is a good wine. Perhaps a little pricier than I would like, but it is good.
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According to Bruno Borie this is not a 'second' wine - they all say that, don't they? – it is from a dedicated plot in the centre of the appellation. We tried it next to the 2009, which was a useful glimpse into the contrasting styles of these two trophy vintages. The 2010 Croix is still quite tight and coiled, and is not showing much. It is well balanced, fresh, quite racy, and should evolve into a nice wine in 5-6 years, but you could probably do a lot better for the money. However, while the 2009, is more approachable the 2010 is the better wine.
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Alongside the same vintage of Fourcas Borie this had more tannin and grip. Classic Cabernet Sauvignon character. Good length and persistence. More to my taste than the Merlot based Forcas Borie but not as big a wine. Needs a few years.
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Good depth on the nose, mocha, sweet tobacco, cassis fruit. A bit closed and tight, especially on the palate. Good, ripe tannins, fresh and more classic with good structure. Vibrant, uplifting finish with good length. A bit young, should really be given a couple of years in the cellar. 90-92(+)
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Clear, dark purple in color w/ruby rim exhibiting aromas of fresh violets, ripe black fruits (blackberry, black cherry, black currant), forest floor, tobacco and earth. Dry w/modest corresponding levels of alcohol/acidity; rich flavors of aforementioned profiles are interwoven with earthy/herbal undertones and spiced accents. Full bodied and evenly balanced; tannins are well integrated and softly textured on the palate providing a full harmonious mouth-feel that transitions effortlessly to a long evenly distributed finish. Nice Bordeaux drinking really well at present and should do so comfortably for several more.
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A far cry from the main chateau wine. A good vintage but lacks the nose and enjoyment. Decanted for 4 hours. Unlikely to improve with time. Go for ducru if you can!
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Really a classy, mid weight second wine. Not overly rich, but has an incredibly pure nose, nice balance and not too tannic for early drinking. Needs time but enjoyable now. 92-93
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Drank in Bordeaux I have to admit that the label does look nice; well done Jade. This has a lovely structure that is maturing nicely into a beautiful wine. Give it another two years.
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Another year or two will add a lot to this richly textured wine and its espresso bean, black cherry and forest floor nose. The clean, supple, flavorful finish will get better as well.
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Ultimo Wine Centre - Bordeaux 2010 Tasting (Swisshotel, Sydney): Cream, vanilla, spice and slightly jammy blackcurrant. Oak note - cedar and pencils shavings. Flavours of pencil shavings, spice, blackcurrant, touch, chewy tannin. Big and young. Needs time. Okay.
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Jammy blackberries, coffee bean, black raspberry scents, fresh lush, plush textures and a sweet, black cherry and fennel finish. Give it a few years to develop additional complexities.
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Croix de Beaucaillou offers a nose of licorice, smoke, dark berries and earthy scents. The round, soft textured wine ends with a cassis, cocoa and boysenberry filled finish. 2010 will be the first vintage sporting a new label for this wine in an effort to let consumers know, the estate does not consider it a second wine of Ducru Beaucaillou. According to Bruno Borie, Croix de Beaucaillou should not be viewed as a second wine because the grapes emanate from a different terroir than the Grand Vin. 91-93 Pts
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Croix de Beaucaillou is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. 2010 marks the debut for the new label promoting the estates efforts to market this brand as a unique wine, and not a second label of Ducru Beaucaillou. According to Bruno Borie, the reason for this is; the wine emanates from a different terroir than the Grand Vin. Cassis, plums and anise scents lead to a wine offering juicy ripe plums and hints of coca. Fresh, clean and polished, this is a strong effort for Croix de Beaucaillou. The wine is going to be aged in 60% new oak for about 12 months. 91-93 Pts
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Again very good freshness here, a little closed but classy and serious for a second wine; very velvety entry on the palate, seductive and with well-managed tannins. This is delicious and very well made. 92-94
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4/24/2024 - Zweder Likes this wine: 93 Points
HWS Bordeaux 2009 vs 2010 (By me): The bouquet is still a bit reticent but shows dark and red berries, beautiful oak and cigar box flavors. On the palate dark and red berries, some bell pepper, juicy and beautiful acidity and a slight, pleasant touch of sweetness in the finish. Still in its early youth. Will probably show more finesse round 2030.
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12/24/2023 - Tauro Likes this wine: 92 Points
Cassis, smoke, cherries, plums and some mint aftertaste. Tannins were smoothed out nicely.
92p.
QPR: Good.
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12/17/2023 - 165Wine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Complex cloud of strawberry and dark cherry notes. Very smooth and light to medium-bodied flavors of dark cherry on the palette. Drink now.
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8/4/2023 - Mathijs81 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Second label, star vintage 2010 ... this has way more life ahead of it.
Very deep and intense, long finish. DB scores again !
Mathijs
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7/4/2023 - advinm41 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Minimal decant. Dark burgundy color. Nose is of cherries compote, truffles, pencil lead and anise note. Palate medium bodied, balanced sweetness and acidity, soft tannins, dark fruit with some secondary development. Held up well on 2nd day. Finish is medium.
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6/24/2023 - Malarky997 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Gorgeous
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3/2/2023 - Romz Likes this wine: 92 Points
26022023 - 5 ⭐️ luncheon hosted by SKT with 14 bottles of wines & 2 aged cognacs. Our 2nd round of 4 bottles tasted blind curated by SKT. Horizontal 2010 from 4 great producers. Loved this. Plenty of dark fruit, cassis, cigar box, dark chocolate & dried tobacco. Medium bold wine with plenty of depths and textures. Finish is still fruit forward & can easily age for another 5-10 yrs. A top 2nd label
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1/19/2023 - Elkcims Likes this wine: 93 Points
2 hour Slow Ox: light to medium bodied, mushrooms, red fruit, violets, fine tannins.
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12/31/2022 - Erling J Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very delicious '10 Croix de Beaucaillou, 2. wine from Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien.
👁 Glittering dark red.
👃 Black conserved fruit; cassis, blackberries & plums.
Slightly dusty notes; fine tobacco, licorice, suede, pencil and fine-tuned oak.
👅 Perfectly balanced; still fresh & fruity, smooth yet dry, softened tannins.
A great mouthful all the way.
🎯 High quality wine. Nice experience at this stage, buy potential for another 5-10y!
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10/18/2022 - Zweder wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Tuesday group "The Dead Sparrow";Bordeaux 2009 vs 2010 (By JS): In the complex and beautiful bouquet dark berries and chocolate, coffee, chocolate and laurel. Same on the palate, coffee, a lot of juicy acidity, dark berries and sweet spices. Very beautiful wine with an enormous length and with a long future.
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7/12/2022 - 559Cheers Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drinking good now. Cork was really lose, kinda slipped out very easy. Nice on nose and palette.
*Autumnal spices, nice subdued fruit and forest floor (geomycin). Great bottle and from a great estate. Showing very well.
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7/8/2022 - JWM03 Likes this wine:
1 hr decant - vibrant, luscious, and delicious.
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2/2/2022 - GTFreek wrote:
Medium plus nose shows gorgeous style, fresh herbs, dried black fruits, pencil shavings, turned earth. Palate gives immediate smooth complexity, lovely layers, dark fruits, elegant structure, dry finish. Should be terrific with proteins. Nice place between age and still having years ahead of it.
80/20 Cabernet/Merlot.
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1/1/2022 - Elkcims Likes this wine: 92 Points
2 hour Slow Ox: light to medium bodied, red fruit, violets, spice, fine tannins, in a good spot. Loved the 14% alcohol vs 16% Napa
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10/9/2021 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
My best friends pension (@ PdV): In the complex bouquet dark berries, tobacco, chocolate, sweet spices and graphite. On the palate juicy dark berries, chocolate, beautifully ripe and round tannin. Beautiful and luxurious wine in a beautiful drinking stage already, but can last for many more years. 93 -94 for now.
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6/12/2021 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Special occasion with close friends from the 1980's (@ My place): In the bouquet beautiful dark berries, sweet spices like cinnamon and blackberry marmalade. On the palate juicy dark berries, bell pepper, beautiful acidity and firm but round tannin. Beautiful wine entering its young maturity stage. 94+
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5/8/2021 - dmvatl wrote:
Garnet in color, high maturity vintage, concentrated complex aromatics, med+ body and tannins, pretty pointed acidity, hint of balsamic, powerful - grab some if you can.
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12/30/2020 - Malarky997 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Truly outperforms its price point
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12/11/2020 - cma82 wrote: 90 Points
Still quite young but good. Tons of cedar, graphite, spice notes and Rick, dark fruit. Bit tight but not unappoachable.
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12/5/2020 - wildcatjw97 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Decanted 1 -3 hours. Very refreshing aroma, black fruit, graphite, cocoa, vanilla and a hint of clove and licorice. Very smooth with a little spice on the finish. Medium to light body, short finish. Went great with a medium-rare/rare steak. Definitely would have again.
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2/22/2020 - KeatingCellar wrote: 91 Points
Still needs a few years to mature
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1/24/2020 - ewqcsl wrote: 92 Points
Drank brown-bagged against a Leoville-Poyferre. This showed well - more expressive but slightly less complex.
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1/19/2020 - #alexindahouse wrote: 93 Points
Excellent again , one year after my last tasting and this wine is flying high. Not as light and fruity as the last tasting.. heavier and darker in style. Tar, liquorice, dark fruits. Noticeably better on the second night , go for a long decant if possible. I’ve just purchased a few bottles of the 2016 vintage , very much looking forward to popping a cork , but this 2010 is seriously good. Enjoy :)
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9/9/2019 - alamoave Likes this wine: 91 Points
I’ve had 2 bottles of this excellent second wine. Most recently popped and poured, which was a mistake. Very, very young. Patience required. Start drinking remaining bottles 2023.
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7/5/2019 - bigberrypicker wrote: 90 Points
This was lovely straight out of the bottle, no long decant needed to start enjoying the rich nose of forest floor and peppermint. Cassis and blackberry came through with more time in the air. Somewhere in the middle after about 2 hours decant a muddled vanilla note marred the balance, but this was short lived.
Mouth was beautifully balanced, subtle tannins and medium-short length.
Overall really lovely at this stage.
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6/30/2019 - LEEJV123 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Medium full, minerals, long, balanced.
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5/8/2019 - dream Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful wine that is drinking very well now. This has the power and crunchy acidity of the vintage with great freshness and delicious black cherry fruit. The tannins are silky with good grip and the finish is quite complex with notes of gravel, cedar and licorice. This is a superb bottle of Bordeaux for drinking now and over the next 5 -10 years.
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3/24/2019 - Ryan.Vento Likes this wine: 92 Points
James Suckling says this is Ducru’s second wine. Wine Enthusiast says this is no longer their second wine. Wine Spectator says it’s no longer their second wine...per se. I believe the issue in question is where the fruit is sourced from and it appears the fruit is no longer sourced from the same vineyards as the grand vin, thus the reticence to actually call it a true second wine. Call it what you will, it’s delightful. Exhibiting a lovely finesse and balance, the nose is chalk full of mint, clove, red cherries, and tobacco. On the palate ripe blackberries, cherries, and hen of the wood. Fine grained tannins with great balance, this is very drinkable at this point in its lifespan. Medium-bodied, relatively light on its feet, and delicious. Fun Fact: Croix no longer shares a common label with the grand vin; the new label (in picture) being an entirely fresh and unique approach using a design concocted by Jade Jagger, daughter of Mick Jagger.
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2/28/2019 - Neecies Likes this wine:
Blackberry, bing cherry, graphite, great body and finish. Showed extremely well without decanting.
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1/18/2019 - VAGentleman Likes this wine: 91 Points
A good representative of St. Julien. Full black fruit at the start with some menthol, pencil, and more subtle red fruit on the back end. Ready now but should last another 5 years.
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1/11/2019 - #alexindahouse Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very nice ! Raspberry and cherry. well ballenced medium bodied light and fruity with complex aroma and pallet. Recommend to those who like a lighter style of Bordeaux.
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11/27/2018 - DanielOsman Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big wine, lovely complexity, graphite, cedar, blackberries. Tannins settles after decanting for an hour. Really lovely wine.
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10/12/2018 - bigberrypicker Likes this wine: 90 Points
Somewhat muted on opening, cherries and raspberry. Over the evening menthol and graphite shows. Mouth a little acidic to begin. not perfectly balanced but pretty good.
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8/18/2017 - AJG91 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Vau, kypsä ja synkän marjainen tuoksu jo avaamisesta. Tanniinit aluksi tiukat, mutta jo n. tunnin jälkeen pehmenivät silkkiseksi ja suutuntuma on juuri sopivassa tasapainossa keskitäyteläisen ja täyteläisen väliltä. Tuoksu kehittyi n. 3 tunnin ajan kohti kypsää medocin laatuviiniä: lyijykynää, puuterista tammea, kypsää mustaherukkaa, vähän lakritsia ja pippuria. Jälkimaku kohtalaisen pitkä.
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8/15/2017 - bigberrypicker Likes this wine: 85 Points
Deep inky purple.
Nose very closed, opening with ~2hrs in decanter. Black pepper and light bramble.
Mouth was full but some serious acidity lurking which spoils the finish, quite unbalanced.
Clearly needs time to integrate further. Will leave for a few more years and try again.
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7/23/2017 - catchnrelease wrote: 91 Points
Still quite primary but the tannins are more or less resolved. Still has a bit of acid for structure and has many years left. Drinking very well now, classic medium-full bodied claret.
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5/18/2017 - vespasian wrote:
Lovely fruit quality here - class of the 2010 vintage comes through strongly; smooth, good core of rich fruit on the palate. Needs more time but showing its potential tonight.
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3/28/2017 - AlexandraDaskalopoulos Likes this wine: 92 Points
Unexpectedly good. Would have needed some more time but still has the complexity of more mature French Bordeaux. Dark blackberry , smoked notes and a hint of pepper.
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2/20/2017 - jskuek Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nose is fragrant, good and elegant.
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1/8/2017 - Bordeaux_Jon Likes this wine: 95 Points
First coravinned pour, single blind tasted against the 2009 Croix de Beaucaillou. The 2010 had a more Pauillac personality with more black fruit such as blackberry, pencil lead, dark oak, and a masculine palate. I was able to successfully guess which was which based on those traits.
For me, the palate is not quite ready, with a lot of tightness and tannins, and definitely benefits with air. However, the nose is just wondrous. So much complexity and evolution occurred with 4 hours of air. At times there was more red fruit, black cherry, and blue fruit notes, I got black pepper, different shades of oak and cigar, some dried herbs.
The 2010, for me is better than the 2009. I do agree that the 2009s in general are a bit nicer on the palate now, but the nose complexity of the 2010s is just amazing at this stage. And the 2010s seems destined to eclipse the 2009 in every way in the long term.
I tried the 2010 Grand Vin at a release tasting and it was really phenomenal. I'm really looking forward to trying it again soon. I think the 2010 Croix is actually more complex on the nose than the 2009 Grand Vin tried last week, but the 2009 Grand Vin is better on the palate, and it is a more pleasurable to drink now. They are all fabulous though.
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12/29/2016 - DrinkEverything702 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Soft nose of roses opens up and livens with more air. Palate has a lovely juiciness with more acidity than you would expect with dried blackberries, white pepper, and wet leather that rounds out nicely with a dry ripe raspberry finish. After some air the palate showed a tart cherry element with woodsy wet tobacco. I would sit on this one for at least a couple more years in search of the more refined feel of older Ducru Beacaillou. I honestly have only had DB from the 80s so am not sure how the younger vintages compare to their secondary wine.
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12/2/2016 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Bordeaux: Second wines in great vintages. (Valuas): In the bouquet beautiful dark berry fruits like blackberries and cassis. On the palate good acidity, dark chocolate, dark berries, chocolate and some good oak and acidity. Beautiful and youthful wine. 93 - 94
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9/4/2016 - physicsfan3.14@gmail.com Likes this wine: 91 Points
Graphite, green pepper, black cherry, floral, and blackberry scents. Medium/full body, good acidity and balance. Finish is medium length. Overall, this is a good wine. Perhaps a little pricier than I would like, but it is good.
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11/24/2015 - Asmiller wrote: 90 Points
I like the old label better, just sayin...
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6/23/2015 - Taureau Likes this wine: 90 Points
Lets be honest now, everyone only buys this because of the pretty shiny label.
It turns out the wine isn't too bad either. Black fruits with earthy undertones.
Rich but young. Kinda like the youngest Kardashian.... just needs a few years.
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4/14/2015 - Comte Flaneur wrote: 89 Points
According to Bruno Borie this is not a 'second' wine - they all say that, don't they? – it is from a dedicated plot in the centre of the appellation. We tried it next to the 2009, which was a useful glimpse into the contrasting styles of these two trophy vintages. The 2010 Croix is still quite tight and coiled, and is not showing much. It is well balanced, fresh, quite racy, and should evolve into a nice wine in 5-6 years, but you could probably do a lot better for the money. However, while the 2009, is more approachable the 2010 is the better wine.
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4/13/2015 - wineforth Likes this wine: 90 Points
Alongside the same vintage of Fourcas Borie this had more tannin and grip. Classic Cabernet Sauvignon character. Good length and persistence. More to my taste than the Merlot based Forcas Borie but not as big a wine. Needs a few years.
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4/13/2015 - Paul D wrote:
Ducru-Beaucaillou - TWS tutored tasting with Bruno Borie (One Great George Street, Westminster): Attractive cedary black fruits, aromatic. Medium bodied, balanced, fine tannins. good length finish with attractive fresh acidity. ***
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4/13/2015 - rossi.wine wrote: 91 Points
Good depth on the nose, mocha, sweet tobacco, cassis fruit. A bit closed and tight, especially on the palate. Good, ripe tannins, fresh and more classic with good structure. Vibrant, uplifting finish with good length. A bit young, should really be given a couple of years in the cellar. 90-92(+)
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2/20/2015 - SouthernStateofMind Likes this wine:
Clear, dark purple in color w/ruby rim exhibiting aromas of fresh violets, ripe black fruits (blackberry, black cherry, black currant), forest floor, tobacco and earth. Dry w/modest corresponding levels of alcohol/acidity; rich flavors of aforementioned profiles are interwoven with earthy/herbal undertones and spiced accents. Full bodied and evenly balanced; tannins are well integrated and softly textured on the palate providing a full harmonious mouth-feel that transitions effortlessly to a long evenly distributed finish. Nice Bordeaux drinking really well at present and should do so comfortably for several more.
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1/25/2015 - dhlau Does not like this wine: 86 Points
A far cry from the main chateau wine. A good vintage but lacks the nose and enjoyment. Decanted for 4 hours. Unlikely to improve with time. Go for ducru if you can!
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11/16/2014 - Mrp2008 wrote: 92 Points
Really a classy, mid weight second wine. Not overly rich, but has an incredibly pure nose, nice balance and not too tannic for early drinking. Needs time but enjoyable now. 92-93
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8/24/2014 - RayOB wrote: 91 Points
Drank in Bordeaux
I have to admit that the label does look nice; well done Jade. This has a lovely structure that is maturing nicely into a beautiful wine. Give it another two years.
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5/28/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Another year or two will add a lot to this richly textured wine and its espresso bean, black cherry and forest floor nose. The clean, supple, flavorful finish will get better as well.
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9/11/2013 - chatters wrote:
Ultimo Wine Centre - Bordeaux 2010 Tasting (Swisshotel, Sydney): Cream, vanilla, spice and slightly jammy blackcurrant. Oak note - cedar and pencils shavings. Flavours of pencil shavings, spice, blackcurrant, touch, chewy tannin. Big and young. Needs time. Okay.
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5/7/2013 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Jammy blackberries, coffee bean, black raspberry scents, fresh lush, plush textures and a sweet, black cherry and fennel finish. Give it a few years to develop additional complexities.
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7/12/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Croix de Beaucaillou offers a nose of licorice, smoke, dark berries and earthy scents. The round, soft textured wine ends with a cassis, cocoa and boysenberry filled finish. 2010 will be the first vintage sporting a new label for this wine in an effort to let consumers know, the estate does not consider it a second wine of Ducru Beaucaillou. According to Bruno Borie, Croix de Beaucaillou should not be viewed as a second wine because the grapes emanate from a different terroir than the Grand Vin. 91-93 Pts
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4/20/2011 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Croix de Beaucaillou is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. 2010 marks the debut for the new label promoting the estates efforts to market this brand as a unique wine, and not a second label of Ducru Beaucaillou. According to Bruno Borie, the reason for this is; the wine emanates from a different terroir than the Grand Vin. Cassis, plums and anise scents lead to a wine offering juicy ripe plums and hints of coca. Fresh, clean and polished, this is a strong effort for Croix de Beaucaillou. The wine is going to be aged in 60% new oak for about 12 months. 91-93 Pts
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4/7/2011 - vespasian wrote: 93 Points
Again very good freshness here, a little closed but classy and serious for a second wine; very velvety entry on the palate, seductive and with well-managed tannins. This is delicious and very well made. 92-94
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