Ducru Beaucaillou 2014 (750ML)

99 JS / 97 JD / 97 JA / 96 WA / 95+ AG / 95 WS

#10 James Sucklings Top 100 Wines of 2017

99 Points James Suckling: Fabulous aromas of crushed berries such as blackberries and blackcurrants, not to mention spices. Wet earth and cedar, too. Complex. Full-bodied, yet agile and complete. A dense center palate. Ultra-round tannins. Everything in the right balance. Wonderful to taste but better to drink in 2022.

97 Points Jeb Dunnuck: The 2014 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is show-stopping stuff, and it goes a long way toward proving how successful the northern parts of the Médoc were in this vintage. Lots of cassis, graphite, smoked tobacco, and damp earth define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, building tannins, and incredible length on the finish. It’s going to evolve for 30 to 40 years – and be drinkable for just about all of it! 

97 Points Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux: Here we see the potential of 2014 in the right hands, and this stands out from its neighbours in northern Médoc, one to note down and look out for. Silky tannins, a ton of cocoa bean, bitter chocolate and espresso, blueberry and cassis fruits, along with turmeric, liqourice and clove spice. Perfectly-pitched acidity that softens into capuccinno creaminess though the mid palate followed by a juicy signoff. Slow build, just delicious. 100% new oak. Eric Boissenot consultant, Virginie Sallette technical director.

96 Points Wine Advocate: The 2014 Ducru Beaucaillou showed extremely well when I tasted it with Bruno Borie during en primeur. Now in bottle, it delivers on that promise with beautifully defined blackberry and raspberry fruit infused with cedar and pencil box aromas. Quintessentially Saint Julien. The palate is very well defined with fine tannin, pitch-perfect acidity, a palpable sense of energy and frisson from start to finish that delivers plenty of tobacco-infused fruit. It is not the perfection-flirting legend that I have read elsewhere; it is just a damn good Saint Julien that is going to drink beautifully over the next 25 to 30 years. Neal Martin

95+ Points Antonio Galloni: One of the more powerful wines for the year, the 2014 Ducru-Beaucaillou surprises with its sheer concentration. A blast of dark cherry, crème de cassis, mocha, spice and chocolate makes a strong opening statement. Super-ripe, voluptuous and opulent, the wine possesses off-the-charts depth and richness. Ducru remains the most opulent and flamboyant of the 2014 Saint-Juliens. While some 2014s have faded a bit over the last two years, Ducru has barely budged. I imagine it will be many years before the 2014 starts drinking well. Proprietor Bruno Borie gave it 18 months in 100 % new French oak. 

95 Points Wine Spectator: This is opulent, with layers of warmed fig, boysenberry and blackberry confiture that loll along, yet are kept going by a graphite note that is well-buried throughout. Alluring black tea, singed mesquite and bittersweet cocoa accents add to the panache. A head-turner. Best from 2020 through 2040. James Molesworth

95-98 Points GVWM: Wow, this is clearly one of the stars of the vintage! It boasts the highest proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon of all the wines we tasted. Black, dense color with strong aromas of blueberry and cassis. This wine really jumps out of the glass, so powerful yet very rich and refined. Complete balance between the sweet, ripe tannins and the very concentrated juice. A wine of great freshness and length. GVWM Staff