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2016 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux

  • Red
  • Dry
  • Full Bodied
Not ready
Neal Martin MW
96-98/100
James Suckling
97-98/100
Product: 20168008844
2016 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux

Description

Bruno Borie says he is more in touch with his mystical side this year and it shows: the 2016 is subtler and more delicate than in previous vintages. A dark purple, the nose is delicate and composed with subtle floral notes, blackcurrant, dark fruits and graphite. On the palate there is a pleasing, rounded texture with further notes of cedar, mocha and liquorice coming through. It’s quite a restrained, subtle Ducru-Beaucaillou in 2016, with elegance and finesse. It finishes long with a juicy persistence.

Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon 85%, Merlot 15%
Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2016
Maturity Not ready
Body Full Bodied
Producer Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Critics reviews

Neal Martin MW 96-98/100
The 2016 Ducru Beaucaillou is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot cropped at 36 hectoliters per hectare between 24 September and 14 October and matured in 100% new oak barrels (for a total of 18 months). The alcohol level comes in at 13.63% with a pH of 3.71. The bouquet is very closed at first, and so I aerated the Grand Vin by transferring from one glass to another. It gradually unfurls to reveal scents of blackberry, bilberry, cedar and a touch of pencil lead. The palate is medium-bodied with a firm backbone cloaked in layers of black fruit. The new oak is probably more present here than some of its peers, but there is more than sufficient substance to absorb that. The mineralité surfaces right towards the persistent finish, completing what is a Ducru Beaucaillou built for the long term. Neil Martin - Wine Advocate #230, April 2017
Neal Martin MW, (Apr 2017)
James Suckling 97-98/100
Very focused and reserved with a mineral, blackberry, licorice and blackcurrant character. Full and refined. Walking a tightrope between steely tannins and and dark fruit. This is highly intellectual and unique. Great finish. Remake of the extraordinary 2014? Stronger than the 2015, for sure. james_suckling - April 2017
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (Apr 2017)

About this wine

Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a St-Julien property that today is one of the leading Super Seconds. It is owned by the Borie family and is situated in the south-east of the St-Julien appellation. Ducru-Beaucaillou's 50 hectares of vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 25%, Cabernet Franc 5% and Petit Verdot 5%) lie on deep, large-stone gravel beds enriched with alluvial soil deposits and with a high clay content. The wines are matured in oak barriques (50-60% new) for 18 months. For many, Ducru-Beaucaillou is the quintessential St-Julien - deep-coloured, powerful, ripe, exquisitely well-balanced and perfectly harmonious. It requires a minimum of 10 years of bottle ageing before it should be approached and the best vintages will continue improving for many more years. Ducru-Beaucaillou is classified as a 2ème Cru Classé.
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