2005 Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou, St Julien

In 2005 Ducru has included much more Merlot than usual but this has not produced the fruit bomb that some expected, but rather, immense elegance. The nose is serious and restrained providing little hint of the layers of luscious raspberry and blackberry fruit lying underneath. This has all the charm and chunkiness of classic St Julien but with an added seductiveness from the extra Merlot.. There is a lovely freshness to the wine along with complexity, balance and fine, supple tannins. The cellar master of 30 years thinks it is the best Ducru he has seen and who are we to argue!

The 2005 Ducru Beaucaillou is a 10,000-case blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot (they used to produce 18,000-20,000 cases). It is an exceptionally powerful wine with a dense purple color, superb intensity, and a beautiful, sweet nose of spring flowers, raspberries, blueberries, graphite, and creme de cassis. Full-bodied with fabulous concentration, exceptionally high tannin, good acidity, and massive layers of richness that build incrementally on the palate, this monumental effort is more structured than their outstanding 2003. It may be the finest wine produced at this estate since the 1982 and 1961 Ducrus. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - 30-Apr-2008)