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Ducru Beaucaillou 2003

St Julien, Second Growth

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Units Size Case size GBP Price: Quantities Buy
12 75cl Bottle Case 12 £1,620 per Case Case [Add to shopping basket]
Tasting Notes

One of the most compelling Ducru Beaucaillou’s made in the last quarter century is the 2003 (which is also the first vintage to be packaged in an impressive heavy glass bottle with a special long cork). A blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot, it is a powerful, tannic, blockbuster effort revealing a liqueur of mineral-like component intermixed with creme de cassis, raspberry, and flower characteristics, and an atypically high 13.5% alcohol. Having firmed up considerably since bottling, it exhibits tremendous definition, weight, and concentration. It is a wine for patient connoisseurs. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025+. A brilliant tour de force!

Score: 96

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2025 30 April 2006

This is one of the finest Ducru Beaucaillous made in the last 20 to 25 years. Certainly in the spirit of the 1982, the wine is atypically opulent and viscous, but still carries its trademark St.-Julien elegance. Deep ruby/purple in color with a sweet nose of jammy cassis intermixed with flowers and some of the tell-tale wet stone/minerality of this estate on display, it is viscous, voluptuously textured, and exceptionally concentrated, with low acidity and relatively high alcohol for this estate (13%). This is great stuff that should drink reasonably well young but age effortlessly for 20-25 years. The final blend is 80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025+. Of course, this estate is now being run by Bruno Borie, the eldest son of the late Jean-Eugene Borie. He replaced his younger brother, Xavier Borie, who remains fully responsible for Grand-Puy-Lacoste and Haut-Batailley.

Score: 94 - 96

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2025 30 April 2005

This is a stunning inky purple-colored effort revealing a tight but promising bouquet of damp earth, forest floor, powerful ripe cassis and black raspberry notes intermixed with licorice and leather. Formidably-endowed, structured, dense, concentrated, and backward, this brawny 2003 should prove to be one of the vintage’s most enduring successes. It needs to be forgotten for 7-10 years. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2035. One of the classic wines of Bordeaux and still realistically priced, Leoville-Barton is becoming increasingly popular because of the extraordinary quality/price ratio it offers.

Score: 94 - 96

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2010-2025 30 April 2005

The first vintage managed from start to finish by Bruno Borie, who replaced his younger brother, Xavier, at Ducru Beaucaillou, the 2003 is an atypically plump, juicy, fat, fleshy effort that does a terrific job of hiding its 13% alcohol. Yields were a mere 34 hectoliters per hectare. The harvest occurred between September 10 - 27, and two-thirds of the grapes made it into the final blend (80% Cabernet Sauvignon and 20% Merlot). The 2003 is reminiscent of the 1982 when tasted in March, 1983. Low in acidity with an evolved plum/purple/garnet color, it offers a sensationally fragrant bouquet of jammy red and black fruits, minerals, earth, and oak. Somewhat atypical for Ducru, it is opulent, viscous, pure, and juicy, with an exuberant, flamboyant personality. If it does not shut down over the next 1-2 years, it will drink well young, yet has the necessary richness and power to evolve for 20-25 years. This is sumptuous stuff!

Score: 93 - 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2004-2029 30 April 2004

Intense aromas of blackberry, currant and cherry. Full-bodied, with masses of big, velvety tannins and a finish that lasts for minutes. A blockbuster. A classic big, juicy claret. Best after 2012.

Score: 97

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2012+ 30 March 2006