2024, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, SAINT-JULIEN, 2ème Grand Cru Classé

Last Year EP $263.00-

Bordeaux Blend: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon.

Ducru Beaucaillou is on top form these days. Bruno Borie has made some very serious wines at Ducru in recent vintages. 2024 is a blend of 86% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2024 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a sleek, elegant wine. Silky tannins give the 2024 its distinctly mid-weight, lithe personality. Readers will find a gracious Ducru built more on persistence and nervy tension than size or opulence. Blue/black fruits, lavender, cloves, menthol and chocolate open over time. It will be fascinating to see how this ages. 2034 - 2054
94-96 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

Deep garnet-purple in colour. Strides out with classic notes of crushed black currants, fresh black plums, and pencil shavings, plus hints of violets, liquorice, and black olives with a touch of menthol. The medium-bodied palate delivers a firm frame of grainy tannins and well-knit freshness to support the blackberry flavours and spicy undertones, finishing on a lingering anise note.
94-96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW.

A gorgeously vivid, lifted nose, with floral aromatics, dark berry and cassis fruits, fleshy but understated, elegant and finessed, squid ink, sandalwood, incense, maintains estate signature and is full of pleasure, 100% new oak for ageing.
95 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux.

The 2024 Ducru-Beaucaillou matured entirely in new oak, as usual. The 100% new wood slightly impedes on the aromatics at the moment, masking some of the attractive blackberry and cassis scents tucked underneath. The palate is medium-bodied and, again, the oak is very vocal at the moment. Quite marine-influenced on the finish, this Ducru-Beaucaillou has impressive sapidity, although the key question is how that wood will assimilate in bottle. Only time will tell. 2030 - 2055
92-94 Neal Martin, Vinous.