Ducru Beaucaillou 2012 Ex-Chateau Case (750MLx6)

96 DE / 95 JS / 95 WE / 94 WI / 94 JD

This displays clear traces of coffee bean, dark chocolate and a swirl of creamy mocha - I can see a parallel with the La Croix 2012. The texture is silky, with the pressure from the tannins suggesting just how well this will age. No need to wait too long to get going on this wine though, and it has a gourmet edge that's hard to resist. - Jane Anson, Decanter

Mesmerizing aromas of blackberries, licorice and mint. Wet stones too. Full-bodied and tight with super-refined and polished tannins that are pinpointed and elegant. It caresses your palate. Savory and salty on finish. Electric for the vintage. Better in 2018. - James Suckling

This is a wine with big tannins and big fruit. You can feel the wood rather than taste it, certainly smell it initially before the black currant aromas kick in. Impressive and sumptuous, it has a solid density that layers with the smoky character of the fruit and wood. Rich and complex, it needs to age. Drink from 2025. — Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

Made from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot, the 2012 Ducru-Beaucaillou is deep garnet in color. It comes barreling out of the glass with bold notions of plum preserves, black cherry compote, and warm cassis, followed by hints of cardamom, pencil shavings, and bay leaves. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully savory, with a lively line and firm yet approachable tannins supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing with impressive energy. It is drinking nicely now, but there is no rush to broach it. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

I loved the 2012 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, a more up-front, supple, approachable, and seamless wine that has plenty of classic Ducru Beaucaillou purity and elegance, with its structure nicely integrated and balanced. Ripe currants, dried tobacco, smoked earth, and chocolaty nuances all give way to a medium to full-bodied, layered, forward Saint-Julien that can be enjoyed any time over the coming two decades, and I have no doubt, given the overall balance here, that it will have a gradual decline thereafter. - Jeb Dunnuck