2013 CH DUCRU BEAUCAILLOU 2ÈME CRU ST JULIEN - 6x150cl

Tasting Notes

• 

  Goedhuis, May 2014,
  Score: 89-91

  Proprietor Bruno Borie likens his 2013 vintage to the Pointer sisters song "slow hand and soft touch.." i.e. not to force anything this year. At this early stage the slow hand is dominating with its delicate damson fruit aroma's and slightly blocky, deep mid palate the wine needs time to integrate to show its true potential.

• 

  Neal Martin, February 2017,
  Score: 92

  Tasted blind as a vintage comparison at the Valandraud vertical, the 2013 Ducru Beaucaillou has an open and generous bouquet that deserves applause considering the growing season. Dark berry fruit, tar and undergrowth scents, even after a couple of years you could considering opening a bottle. The palate is well balanced with fine tannin, silky smooth and dare I say, almost Burgundy-like towards the finish that shows no signs of any greenness. Considering the challenges of the vintage, Bruno Borie should consider this a success. I would drink this over the next decade.

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  Neal Martin, April 2014,
  Score: 92-94

  Bruno Borie has overseen not just one of the best Saint Julien wines of 2013, but one of the best Left Bank wines. The Grand Vin is a blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot picked between 26 September with the Merlot and finishing with the Cabernet on 9 October, stopping on the 4 October during the showers. It was cropped at 26hl/ha. It has quite an elegant and natural bouquet, very classic in style with a subtle marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied is medium-bodied with very good concentration and well judged acidity. I like the density here and the grainy texture, persistent on the spicy finish. This is a big step up from the Croix de Beaucaillou this year and an assured, composed Saint Julien.

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  Robert Parker, August 2014,
  Score: 89-91

  A blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, the 2013 Ducru Beaucaillou achieved 13% natural alcohol. This beauty possesses a lot more texture than many 2013s as well as a deep ruby/purple color, a serious mid-palate, lots of cassis and spring flower characteristics intermixed with notions of oak and forest floor, medium body, and a ripe, soft personality. It will be ideal for drinking in its first decade or more of life.

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  Decanter, April 2014,
  Score: 93

  Dense colour from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, great purity and depth, quite lush for 2013 and superb vineyard expression, a totally modern Ducru. Drink: 2018-2030

• 

  Matthew Jukes, April 2014,
  Score: 18

  This is an incredibly exciting wine with a luscious core of fruit and a moresih finish. Superbly suave and sexy and not too strict or tannic thanks to careful extraction there are no sour notes whatsoever on the finish. If you tried to overcompensate for lack of structure and extracted too much brawn in this vintage you made a grave error. Ducru has nailed the balance here with very sensitive winemaking. Only 7.5% press wine was added and this has resulted in a silky beast which grows on the mid-palate. Very smart and very polished, this is not a long-lived, contemplative D-B, but it is a stunning 2013 and it will drink early and this is something to celebrate.

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  Jancis Robinson, April 2014,
  Score: 17.5

  90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. 100% new oak. Much less expressive than their Croix, but the fruit has a fabulous purity on the palate. Malleable tannins, elegant perfume, soft texture. Tender and balanced. At present, the Croix is more immediate and interesting, but this has plenty of potential. (RH)

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  Tim Atkin, May 2014,
  Score: 94

  Given the vicissitudes of the vintage, this is surprisingly dense and concentrated, thanks to the inclusion of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon. Floral, supple and elegant, with fine tannins, neatly interwoven oak sweetness and a freshness that lifts the finish. 2018-28

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Producer

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Instantly recognisable by its sunny Mediterranean-hued label,Ducru Beaucaillou is always a favourite amongst wine aficionados. Owned by the Borie family over the last 60 years, it has been run by Bruno, the eldest son of the late Jean-Eugène, since 2003. This change in leadership seems to have had a positive effect in all vintages since. Like certain other châteaux in Bordeaux, Ducru carries out cold macerations during their vinification process, a technique in which grapes are steeped in their own juice at low temperatures to gently extract vibrant colour and fleshy fruit.