Château Ducru-Beaucaillou - St.-Julien 2018 (750ml)
Price: $275.00
#45 James Suckling Top 100 Wines of 2021
| Producer | Château Ducru-Beaucaillou |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St. Julien |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Sku | 8613 |
| Size | 750ml |
Wine Spectator: 96-99 Points
Another rock 'em sock 'em St.-Julien here brimming with nearly exotic blackberry plum blueberry and açaí berry reduction notes bristling with brambly energy and racing through a graphite-edged finish. Shows gorgeous perfume throughout despite the fairly obvious level of concentration.
James Suckling: 99 Points
Aromas of blackberries blackcurrants new leather and bark follow through to a full body with a dense deep palate that goes on and on but is still shy and reserved. Large amount of ultra fine cashmere-like tannins that are silky sleek and wonderfully integrated. Extremely long and focused. Needs at least four to five years to start opening. A beautiful wine for the cellar. Try after 2027.
Wine Advocate: 97-99 Points
The 2018 Ducru-Beaucaillou is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot to be aged 18 months in 100% new barriques. It has a pH of 3.7 14.5% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 95. Very deep purple-black in color it prances out of the glass with flamboyant showy scents of cinnamon stick wilted roses star anise fallen leaves and Ceylon tea with a core of blackcurrant cordial black cherry compote violets chocolate mint and espresso plus a waft of crushed rocks. Full-bodied opulent and decadently fruited with layer upon layer of black/blue fruit and floral nuances it has an exquisitely ripe fine-grained frame and fantastic freshness supporting the multifaceted beguiling fruit finishing with tons of fragrant flowers and mineral sparks. At once beautifully elegant and wonderfully bold. About 7000 cases of the grand vin will be produced really focusing on the area around the estate.
Jeb Dunnuck: 98+ Points
The Grand Vin 2018 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou checks in as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that was harvested at the end of September through October 10 and brought up all in new French oak. This is a gorgeous incredibly complete classic expression of this terroir offering a heavenly nose of crème de cassis cedarwood unsmoked tobacco new leather spring flowers chocolate and a touch of chalky minerality. With full-bodied richness a monster of a mid-palate remarkable purity and a great great finish it's one of the most concentrated impressive wines of the vintage and might also be one of the longest lived. It actually reminds me of an improved version of the 1996 or a hypothetical mix of the 2010 and 2016. For the tech geeks out there the IPT checks in at a massive 95 and the pH is 3.7.
Wine Enthusiast: 96-98 Points
This is a powerful wine that shows big tannins and great concentration that are matched with intense acidity. The result is a magnificent wine with the dense fruit flavor and bold structure that will lend well to aging.
Vinous: 96+ Points
The 2018 Ducru-Beaucaillou is surprisingly reticent at this stage almost shockingly so. I imagine that won't be an issue in time. If anything I am quite struck by the wine's energy and drive. Dark-fleshed fruit spice mint lavender and new oak build in the glass. From barrel the Ducru was opulent and sensual but it appears to be going through a closed phase at the moment. Decanting helps but I would not be in any rush to drink this. The 2018 is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot aged for 18 months in 100% new French oak. (Drink between 2028-2058)
jd
