2015 Ducru Beaucaillou
By Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou
2015 Ducru Beaucaillou from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, St-Julien, Bordeaux
It is with a keen palate and a deep appreciation for the subtleties of terroir that I approach the 2015 Ducru Beaucaillou from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou. The vintage itself has been lauded for its impeccable balance and structure, firmly placing it within the upper echelons of Bordeaux vintages.
Outstanding Vintage Personified
2015 was a year that proffered opulence balanced by precision, exemplified in this particular expression from St-Julien. The wine safeguards the hallmark traits of its esteemed château while simultaneously capturing the unique climatic nuances that 2015 bestowed.
The structure of this wine is underpinned by a robustness of tannins, elegantly integrated and harmonious. It carves out a landscape wherein dark fruits intertwine with an olfactory tapestry of cedarwood and subtle tobacco—a chiaroscuro of the senses, if you will. As often with noteworthy Bordeaux blends, there is an underlying minerality that recalls the gravelly territories from whence it came.
An Investment in Sensory Delight
The 2015 vintage culminated in wines poised for impressive longevity; this Ducru Beaucaillou is no exception. For investors, its robust profile and cellar-worthy complexity make it an astute addition to any portfolio. Here is not merely a bottle to be enjoyed; it's one to be studied over time, each sip revealing another nuance as it unfolds majestically in the glass.
In conclusion, the 2015 Ducru Beaucaillou from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou epitomises the zenith of winemaking craftsmanship during an exceptional year for Bordeaux. As a sensory investment, it marries performance in the cellar with unparalleled drinking pleasure—a true bastion of fine wine potential.
Market price (USD)
$2,120.00
12x75cl
Highest score
97
POP score
101.76
Scores and tasting notes
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou rocks up with flamboyant baked black plums, crème de cassis, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries scents plus hints of cinnamon stick, black tea and candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with black fruit preserves and spicy accents, with a firm, velvety frame and finishing with great length and perfume. Ideally, I'd give it another year to fan out just a bit more, but it is coming around nicely and is already fantastically delicious!
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 13 August 2020
A dense and compressed red with loads of blackberry and blueberry character. Fresh wet vineyard soil. Some mushroom too. Full and very tannic yet polished and very refined. Super balance and depth.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com
Containing the highest ever percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon at Ducru, this is a wine of structure and impressive energy that was aged in 100% new oak. Rich, dense and complex, it’s gutsy and profound, with polished tannins, blackberry and blackcurrant sweetness and a long, tapering finish. Drink: 2025-40
Tim Atkin - timatkin.com
The 2015 Ducru Beaucaillou is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, picked from around 28 September to 6 October. Matured in 100% new oak for what will be 18 months, delivering 13.5% alcohol, it has a relatively opulent bouquet for Saint Julien, with ripe black plum mixed with blackberry and cranberry, very well defined and neatly interwoven with the new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly savory opening, gently but insistently gripping the mouth. It feels dense and structured with a subtle marine-like note towards the linear, black olive-tinged finish. Bruno Borie has a 2015 with backbone, with longevity in mind. I suspect this will require a decade for the tannins to soften and continue the purple patch for this grand estate.
Neal Martin - eRobertParker.com, #224, April 2016
95% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Merlot. IPT 75, pH 3.89, 35 hl/ha. Highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon ever. 100% new oak. From 2003 the wine has been aged for 18 months in barrel. Very deep. Lifted and fresh. Very correct and unforced. Very sweet. Only just not too sweet… Transparent. Very expressive. Lively and fresh but a bit sinewy.
Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com