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: 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien

2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien

SKU #1389939 99 points Decanter

Outer quote mark The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is very reminiscent of the style of the vintage with dark berry aromas, smoky notes, spices, liquorice, and graphite. Very elegant oaky frame with air. On the palate, there is both unctuosity and freshness, but also an animal note and sappy, velvety tannins. The imposing tannic structure has yet to smooth out, but underneath there is remarkable depth and substance. It will take some time for this racy thoroughbred to hit its stride. (YC) Inner quote mark (5/2021)

97 points James Suckling

Outer quote mark Aromas of oyster shell, iron and currants. Hints of iodine. Full-bodied, very tight and focused. Love the finish of sandalwood, cinnamon, violets and lavender. Wonderful tannin texture. Linear and driven. Inner quote mark (2/2018)

97 points Wine Advocate

Outer quote mark Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou rocks up with flamboyant baked black plums, crème de cassis, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries scents plus hints of cinnamon stick, black tea and candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with black fruit preserves and spicy accents, with a firm, velvety frame and finishing with great length and perfume. Ideally, I'd give it another year to fan out just a bit more, but it is coming around nicely and is already fantastically delicious! (LPB) Inner quote mark (8/2020)

97 points Wine Enthusiast

Outer quote mark With its 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine has super-ripe black-currant flavors encased in firm, smoky tannins and hints of wood. Showing the opulence of the vintage and the style of Saint Julien, it will age for many years. The wine will certainly not be ready before 2026. *Cellar Selection* (RV) Inner quote mark (4/2018)

97 points Wine Spectator

Outer quote mark Showy, with layers of warmed fig, roasted mesquite, black tea, incense and Turkish coffee notes, followed by waves of lush cassis, blackberry and raspberry confiture flavors. This has a graphite grounding rod, a tarry spine and riveting licorice snap details to keep it driving along. A head-turner for sure. *Top 100 Wines of 2018* (JM) Inner quote mark (3/2018)

96 points Jeb Dunnuck

Outer quote mark The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated wine (there’s 5% Merlot) that was brought up in 100% new barrels. It’s a classic, elegant, classy 2015 revealing a deep, saturated purple color as well as terrific notes of crème de cassis, smoked earth, lead pencil, and violets. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, and a stacked mid-palate, it should start to shine in 6-7 years and keep for three decades. Inner quote mark (11/2017)

94 points Vinous

Outer quote mark The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is maybe a little more understated than its peers; it doesn’t grab you by your lapels and demand your attention. It is attractive, but I would have liked more vigor. The medium-bodied palate presents grainy tannin, gentle grip, more freshness in the mouth than on the nose, and a pastille-like purity toward the sweet, candied finish. Lovely, but it has certainly retreated into its shell and will require extended cellaring vis-à-vis its peers. (NM) 94+ Inner quote mark (7/2019)

Jancis Robinson

Outer quote mark Youthful, sappy oak and toast aromas, rich fruit and complex spice on the palate. Fine tannins that are absolutely ready to drink. Starting to show liquorice and leather, plus an almost caramelised or torrefaction sort of aroma. Despite the super-ripe style, there is lovely savoury snap on the finish, and long, herb-infused persistence. 17.5/20 points (RH) Inner quote mark (12/2021)

K&L Notes

98 points, Antonio Galloni - Vinous: "The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is phenomenally great. Inky, powerful and explosive, the 2015 pulses with energy in all of its dimensions. Creme de cassis, blackberry jam, graphite, smoke, leather and incense, along with the wine's muscular tannins, convey an impression of brooding intensity. The 2015 has been nothing short of sensational on the two occasions I have tasted it so far. Readers should be prepared to be patient. Don't miss it!" (02/2018) 95 points, Neal Martin: "The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou, a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, has a very refined bouquet with precise blackberry, cedar, crushed flowers and incense that blossom in the glass. This is immediately seductive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grain tannin. This is very refined and sensual, the acidity extremely well judged and lending tension from start to finish. Notes of black fruit, allspice, a touch of graphite and subtle mineral tones surface toward the finish. This is a stunning Ducru Beaucaillou that deserves several years in bottle." (02/2018)

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2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou, St-Julien

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Varietal:

Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends

- Cabernet Sauvignon has come a long way from its role as a blending varietal, however dominant, in the wines of Bordeaux. Today it is the most planted red varietal in the world. Identified as a descendent of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc, the late-ripening Cabernet Sauvignon needs to be planted in warmer climates to fully ripen. Its small berries can easily be identified for their distinctive blue color, thick skins and high tannins. And while the varietal has its own definitive characteristics: green pepper-like aromas and black currant flavors among them, it is perhaps most prized for its ability to convey terroir, vintage and winemaking. A relatively new varietal, Cabernet Sauvignon started making inroads into the wines of the Médoc and Graves in the late-18th century. Today it is also dominant in the up-and-coming Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux and can also be found in Southwest France. It is the companion varietal to Sangiovese in Italy's Super Tuscans and is planted all over Europe, stretching to lesser-known winegrowing regions like Russia and Lebanon. In the Americas Cabernet Sauvignon has found champions in every nook and cranny of California and among winemakers in Washington, where it complements plantings of Merlot. In South America, Cab thrives in Chile, but can also be found in smaller amounts in Argentina and even in Mexico.

Country:

France

- When it comes to wine, France stands alone. No other country can beat it in terms of quality and diversity. And while many of its Region, Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne most obviously, produce wine as rare, as sought-after and nearly as expensive as gold, there are just as many obscurities and values to be had from little known appellations throughout the country. To learn everything there is to know about French wine would take a lifetime. To understand and appreciate French wine, one only has to begin tasting them.

Sub-Region:

Bordeaux

Specific Appellation:

Saint Julien

- St. Julien, the smallest of the four famous appellations of the Haut Medoc, is known for highly extracted, finely structured, Cabernet-based reds. It is nestled between Pauillac to the north and Margaux to the south. Like St. Estephe, there are no first growths in this area. Leoville-las-Cases, Leoville Poyferre, Leoville Barton, Ducru Beaucaillou, and Gruard Larose are the second-growths of St. Julien followed by Lagrange which is the only third-growth. Beychevelle, Branaire Ducru, St. Pierre, and Talbot, which are all fourth-growth wines, round out the grand cru classe chateaux. In the last several vintages, wineries from this appellation have been out-performing their traditional rankings making many of the wines from this region some of the best values in red wine today.

Alcohol Content (%):

13.5