2025, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, SAINT-JULIEN, 2ème Grand Cru Classé

2nd growth 1855

Bruno Borie has made some very serious wines at Ducru in recent vintages. Bruno's policy is to only select fruit from the heart of the Ducru vineyard, overlooking the estuary, for the grand vin. Ducru is clearly back where it belongs at the top of the super-second league.

2025 is a blend of 79% cabernet sauvignon and 21% merlot.

The 2025 Ducru-Beaucaillou is fabulous. Vibrant red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, mint and blood orange are all beautifully sculpted. The purity of the fruit is just remarkable. New oak is 100%, but lower toast levels and a more dialed-in approach here are palpable. Gorgeous floral and savoury Cabernet top notes lift the finish. Superb, and one of the highlights of the year, Ducru is absolutely stunning in 2025. Drinking window 2035-2065. 96-99 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.

Such a vivid and vibrant colour in the glass with a bright pink rim. Ripe almost heady aromatics – perfumed bramble fruits with a dried floral aspect and dark chocolate. The tannins and structure clearly on show and dark fruit in the background. The aromatic display is quite incredible. Mouthwatering acidity, great tannin structure, there’s a lot going on with this wine.This is built like a racehorse, muscular and filling but chewy and soft too. I love the personality and think this wine has a long life ahead. There’s purity, clarity and gloss. 98 Georgina Hindle, Decanter.

The intensity is very impressive on the nose, with black currants, raspberries and graphite. Medium to full-bodied with a powerful structure of steely tannins that are polished and long. Turns fluid, fine and chewy at the end. Wait and see. 96-97 James Suckling.

Stunning, nuanced, and just full of joy. Reserved flesh, toasted cumin, fresh blueberries and raspberries with rich seams of cassis, fresh pomegranate, and cappuccino, this is very Ducru in its width and breadth, but with a freshness and lift that is very much of the 2025 vintage. Almost certainly this will close down for a number of years, but all is well controlled, with quiet confidence. A wine you will be happy to spend a lot of time with. Bruno Borie owner. 2036-2055. 97 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux.