1989 Ducru Beaucaillou
By Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou
The 1989 Ducru Beaucaillou from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, St-Julien, Bordeaux
In an era distinguished by the renaissance of Bordeaux excellence, the 1989 Ducru Beaucaillou from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou emerges as a testament to the virtuosity of St-Julien's terroir and the masterful hand of the vintner. With a legacy steeped in the rich soils of one of France's most hallowed wine regions, this particular vintage whispers tales of climatic serendipity and agrarian acumen.
Quintessential Qualities: The Tapestry of a Venerable Vintage
Firm in structure yet graceful in its presentation, the 1989 Ducru Beaucaillou captures an exquisite snapshot of a year that saw Bordeaux graced with near-perfect climatic conditions. The resulting wine eloquently expresses the hallmark finesse that aficionados have come to anticipate from this venerable estate.
The particular alchemy of weather patterns during the 1989 growing season in St-Julien allowed for an opulent ripening of grapes which, when translated into the bottle, offers a sumptuous array of cassis and blackberry notes, harmoniously laced with a delicate tracery of spice and tobacco. This vintage has matured magnificently, revealing layers of complexity through velvety tannins and an enduring finish that captivates with its elegant poise.
An Investment Worthy Of Connoisseurs
Within the framework of fine wine investment, the 1989 vintage presents an alluring proposition. Its pedigree is unquestioned; its performance over time has been exemplary—gentling into its apex where it comfortably remains. For connoisseurs seeking to diversify their portfolio or for investors seeking to capture a slice of winemaking history, this offering from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou is undoubtedly compelling.
The 1989 Ducru Beaucaillou stands as an emblematic illustration of why meticulous stewardship over land and vine can yield dividends far surpassing mere financial gain. It is a vintage that not only boasts an impressive provenance but also continues to enchant with each subsequent decanting—its narrative unfolding with the passage of time.
In deducing the virtues of this particular St-Julien treasure, one discerns not merely an exceptional calling card from the impressive 1989 harvest but also reflective evidence that fine wine investment need not be avaricious in nature—indeed, it becomes an odyssey for palatial discovery and delight for those fortunate enough to partake.
Market price (USD)
$1,830.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
125
Scores and tasting notes
Harvest took place this year from 11th to 24th September. The wine was aged for around 12 months in two-thirds new oak. Pale to medium brick colored, the 1989 Ducru-Beaucaillou sashays out of the glass with pretty notes of dried flowers, fallen leaves and dusty soil over a core of warm figs, dried cherries, prunes and spice cake plus wafts of unsmoked cigars and powdered cinnamon. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is still seductively rich with a lively line of soft, silt-like tannins, finishing long and wonderfully savory. Readers should note that this vintage fell within a notoriously patchy period at Ducru, where the cellar is likely to have fallen victim to TCA or a TCA-like taint, and it appears some bottles were impacted from 1986 to 1994. By 1995, the chateau had a completely new vat room/cellar and the problem ceased. Therefore, there could be some bottle variation to be had with this vintage. This bottle, however, was pristine, tasted at the chateau.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 13 August 2020
Ducru's 1989 was one of the more tannic, backward wines in the blind tasting. It is cleanly made, and well-crafted, with plenty of black-raspberry and cassis fruit nicely touched by minerals and a fragrant, floral component. Medium-bodied, elegant, and well-endowed, this is a potentially outstanding wine if all the tannin melts away over the next 5-6 years. One of the least flattering 1989s to drink at present, it requires 4-5 more years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2020.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate #109 February 1997
Served at the Ducru offline in London. Not quite sure whether this is one of the tainted bottles but this example is not impressive. It has a soft mulberry nose, a lot of underbrush, almost garrigue-like notes but lacking some freshness. The palate is medium-bodied and full mature, quite masculine, a no-frills Ducru, black fruits, graphite, very foursquare and much too conservative to elicit much excitement. Drink now-2015. Tasted September 2009.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jul 2010