Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien 2018 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

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 in the wine trade, is a supple, elegant and precocious wine made from vines that belonged to Château Lagrange in 1855.

Decanter

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

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

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

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

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

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

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, seductive tannins. Terrific emotion. Well done!