2009 Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou, St. Julien

The 2009 Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou is clearly a wine of great power but it is its restraint that makes it particularly impressive in 2009. With layers of blackcurrant fruit and sweet spice, it is very supple, very smooth and very sexy – but elegant at the same time. With its long finish of great persistence, this is a very harmonious wine.

Black red, very smoky, really concentrated nose, lots of extraction, massively structured, certainly a most impressive wine, one of the blockbusters of the vintage.
(Steven Spurrier - Decanter - Apr 2010)

75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot. From the centre of the appellation area and all the young vines too. Deep crimson. Lively and fresh on the nose. Sleek, polished, very sweet and frank – black fruits on the palate. 60% new oak. Dries out a bit on the finish. A little exaggerated. Cool and drying on the finish.
(Jancis Robinson MW - jancisrobinson.com - Apr 2010)

The 2009 Ducru Beaucaillou will eclipse the brilliant wines produced in 2005, 2003 and 2000. It will be interesting to see how the 2009 fares against the 2010 after twenty years of aging, but my money is on the 2009. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that achieved 13.5% natural alcohol, this inky purple, unctuous wine possesses classic aromas of graphite, creme de cassis, blueberries, violets, licorice and Christmas fruitcake. Full-bodied and intense with Ducru’s inimitable elegance and purity, it should firm up in the bottle after 7-10 years of cellaring and last for 40-50 years. Magnificent!

Bruno Borie has done a remarkable job at Ducru Beaucaillou.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - February 2012)

This has an impressive powerful and hearty structure, with seductive floral, currant and licorice aromas and flavors, showing powerful tannins at the end. This sneaks up on you at the end. Structured and very, very powerful. The blockbuster tannins are sweet and fruit-coated. This is a classic, powerful style of Ducru. May be best yet. Wow!
(James Suckling - Wine Spectator - March 2010)