Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien 2018 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé
Bordeaux
Red
Sold individually
To keep
Wooden crate
100/100
Decanter
-
99/100
James Suckling
-
99/100
Yves Beck
-
99/100
Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing
-
99/100
The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve
-
98/100
Robert Parker
"A monumental wine!"
"One of the greatest wines this estate produced in Bruno Borie's time. Ducru-Beaucaillou 2018 sneaks up on you with this fabulous, singular bouquet of spice, iris, violet, black cherry and cassis. The oak is perfectly integrated and intertwines with the graphite notes over time. The palate is concentrated and bursting with energy, but what really stands out is its disconcerting freshness and the finesse and precise contours of the tannic structure. An already profound wine that will reach new heights over the next 2 decades." (Decanter 2021) - Delivery in wooden case possible for orders of 6 bottles of this wine (depending on country and shipping method selected)
Features
Estate
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Cuvée
2nd Grand Cru Classé
Vintage
2018
Designation
Saint-Julien
Region
Bordeaux
Grape varieties
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot
Terroirs
Garonne gravel and limestone dating from the ancient Quaternary (Günz)
Viticulture
Traditional and meticulous
Harvest
Manual
Winemaking
Alcoholic fermentation between 28°C and 30°C for grapes from old vines and at slightly lower temperatures for younger plots. Alcoholic fermentation lasts about 2 weeks with regular pumping over.
Breeding
18 months in 100% new French oak barrels
Alcohol content
14,5%
Tasting & pairing
Eye
Intense, deep crimson color, very seductive.
Nose
A dazzling, tightly-knit bouquet that opens on aeration with beautiful fruit, floral nuances and a touch of violet. Later, with agitation, a hint of graphite.
Mouth
Juicy, flavorful wine, underpinned by lovely freshness. A bewitching wine with a lot of flesh, very well-balanced, remarkable persistence, a very academic construction.
Serve
Decant at 17-18°C
Open
2 hours before
Drink from
2027
Drink before
2050
Food and wine pairing
Enjoy with refined dishes such as mature red meats, game...
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou
Saint-Julien
Expert opinion
Bettane & Desseauve
Domaine rated (2020 guide) 5*Stars (Outstanding producers, those who represent the absolute pinnacle of quality in France and the world)
About the domain :
Since 2003, Bruno Borie, with the irreplaceable help of Éric Boissenot as oenological advisor, has brought this renowned cru back to its highest level, very close to and sometimes superior to some of the premier crus. The second wine, croix-de-beaucaillou, which includes the remarkable vines of the former Terrey Gros Cailloux, has finally joined the category's best since 2005. A third Saint Julien, Lalande-Borie, an old and esteemed brand of the wine trade, is a supple, elegant and precocious wine made from vines that belonged to Château Lagrange in 1855.
Decanter
Wine rated (guide 2021 ) 100/100
About the wine:
One of the greatest wines this estate produced in Bruno Borie's day. Ducru-Beaucaillou 2018 sneaks up on you with this fabulous, singular bouquet of spice, iris, violet, black cherry and cassis. The oak is perfectly integrated and intertwines with the graphite notes over time. The palate is concentrated and bursting with energy, but what really stands out is its disconcerting freshness and the finesse and precise contours of the tannic structure. An already profound wine that will reach new heights over the next 2 decades. 2022 - 2050
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Wine rated (guide 2021) 98/100 (Exceptional)
Domaine noté Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About the wine:
Deep purple-black in color, it presents a powerful nose of baked black cherries, blackberry jam and crème de cassis, with nuances of menthol, pencil lead, cedar chest and Indian spices, as well as hints of violet and licorice that emerge after a few minutes. Medium- to full-bodied, the palate bursts with punchy layers of black fruits and exotic spices, supported by firm, ripe grainy tannins and tons of freshness, finishing on a lingering note of fragrant earth. There's a brilliance to this wine - a surprising freshness - and yet it remains very rich and hedonistic, presenting an extraordinary winemaking paradox that will wow fans of this great estate.
About the domain :
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Domaine rated (2020 guide) 3*Stars (They represent the excellence of the French vineyard. The best terroirs cultivated by the greatest winemakers. Tasting their wine is always a magical moment)
About the domain :
Ducru-Beaucaillou is the perfect choice for lovers of great classic Médocs. Bruno Borie manages this superb cru with talent and determination, and in recent years has placed it in the top tier of Bordeaux wines. Never demonstrative, neither over-extracted nor overpowering, the wines shine with distinction and silky substance. These are great, deep, digestible and well-balanced Medocs. However, Ducru-Beaucaillou only reveals its full potential with age, so it's always a shame to taste it too early. Its fresh finish and elegant tannins are a sign of the exceptional capacity of the heart of its terroir. Croix de Beaucaillou, formerly the château's second wine, is now a cru in its own right, with its own dedicated parcel.
James Suckling
Wine rated (guide 2021 ) 99/100
Recommended area
About the wine:
Aromas of blackberry, cassis, new leather and bark follow through to a full-bodied, dense and deep palate that lingers, but remains shy and reserved. Plenty of ultra-fine, cashmere-like tannins, silky, elegant and wonderfully integrated. Extremely long and concentrated. Needs at least 4-5 years to open up. A fine wine for the cellar. Try after 2027.
Yves Beck
Wine rated (guide 2021 ) 99/100
About the wine:
Dense garnet-red with violet highlights. Intense, complex bouquet with notes of graphite and cedar. One senses the grandeur of the terroirs and the finesse of the ageing process... which nevertheless takes place in 100% new oak. Beautiful symbiosis of ripeness and freshness, with ripe Cabernet nuances and notes of licorice, dark berries and cinnamon. On the palate, the wine is elegant, dense, creamy and silky. Elegance from the outset. This is relayed by the tannic structure that reveals itself slowly along the palate. The tannins are fine, powerful, persistent and in phase with the acidity. A balanced, powerful, persistent wine. 2026-2048
The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve
Wine rated (guide 2021 ) 99/100
About the wine:
Intense in color, the wine is completely opaque. The first thing you notice are the aromas, which blossom with an array of flowers, dark red and black fruits, forest floor, espresso, damp earth, tobacco leaf and bitter chocolate. Full-bodied, concentrated, rich, deep, opulent, fresh and intense, the wine coats your palate and sticks to your skin. That's a good thing, because it's hard not to want more of all that sweet, ripe, succulent fruit. The purity, symmetry and length continue for almost 60 seconds! Give it at least 12 to 15 years to age and it could reach the triple-digit mark! The Grand Vin is made from only 35% of the harvest.
Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing
Rated 99/100
About the wine:
The bouquet of Ducru-Beaucaillou 2018 is simply superb, racy, bright and deep. Very black fruit, it evolves with aeration on gentle notes of graphite. The palate is satiny, deep and complex, with caressing, beguiling tannins. Terrific emotion. Well done!
Customer reviews
Buy Ducru-Beaucaillou wines at the best price on private sale!
Free on your 1st order*.