Clearly, Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou has been on a hot streak for close to 20 years. With the 2015 vintage just around the corner from being offered for sale, En Primeur, having tasted the wine, I can promise that streak is going to continue. While at least in my view the wines being made at the property have never been better, previous vintages have continued to offer stylish, character driven wines with a distinctive nature for decades. Knowing I was on my way to Bordeaux to taste the new vintage, as well as some older wines got me in the mood to pop the cork on a 20 year old bottle of Ducru.
1996 Ducru Beaucaillou is the wine of the week. It’s a text-book example of a mature St. Julien wine that is just entering its plateau of prime time maturity. Tasting this beauty is like smoking a great Cuban cigar while drinking a glass of cassis. Close to fully mature, this character filled soft textured charmer is packed with smoke, tobacco, ripe, sweet, dark red fruits earth and truffle notes. 94 Pts
