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Ducru Beaucaillou 2011

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

Label

Tasting Notes

The 2011 Ducru Beaucaillou (which normally represents 1/3 to ½ of the entire crop) possesses a dense ruby/purple color along with a beautiful nose of sweet creme de cassis, crushed rock and spring flower aromas. This rich, medium to full-bodied St.-Julien is among the most concentrated wines of the Medoc. Moderate tannin is sweet and well-integrated. This beauty will benefit from 3-5 years of cellaring and keep for two decades. Drink 2017 - 2037.

92+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (212), May 2014

The 2011 Ducru-Beaucaillou was an early-picked vintage, 5-18 September, but has the same analysis as the 2009 and 2010 in terms of IPT. Matured in 90% new oak for 18 months, it has a very well defined bouquet with intense black fruit intermingling with dried herbs and liquorice; strangely, the 2011 is not unlike the 2005 in character and also being "not ready". The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, sweet and generous yet with countervailing acidity and a gorgeous, pure and nuanced finish. This is one of the real surprises of this vertical and must rank as one of the best Left Bank wines of the vintage. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. 2022-2048

94
Neal Martin, vinous.com, July 2022

This sweet white is quite oily, with dried-pineapple and mango character. It's full-bodied, very sweet and juicy on finish. Thick and rich. Drink now or hold.

93
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2014

Deep garnet colored, the 2011 Ducru-Beaucaillou features fragrant notes of underbrush, tilled soil, tree bark and fungi over a core of red currant jelly, preserved plums, cassis and mulberries. Medium-bodied, elegant, refreshing and with a sturdy, grainy texture, it offers just enough black fruit and earthy layers in the mouth and a savory finish. 2020 - 2038

93
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Aug 2020 W), August 2020

Ducru is on top form these days. Bruno Borie has made some very serious wines at Ducru in recent vintages with many vats previously destined for the grand vin now being used for the second label. From 2003 onwards production of the first wine has been reduced from 15,000-20,000 cs to 9,000-11,000 cs. There is now more second wine - La Croix de Beaucaillou - than there is Grand Vin. Bruno's policy is now to only select fruit from the heart of the Ducru vineyard, overlooking the estuary for the Grand Vin. Ducru is clearly back where it belongs at the top of the super-second league. There is 30% less volume here than in 2010 as the yield was only 25hl/ha. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot. This is a big and bold expression of Cabernet Sauvignon. Very concentrated and quite a block of a wine. Strong, rich and powerful with firm tannins and a long finish.

94
Farr Vintners, March 2012

The nose has lots of fruit deep rich and sweet. Black cherry and cassis fill out the start of the palate damson and sloes enrich the middle all quite chewy and chunky lots of damsons. The tannins are firm but feel ripe giving structure but not holding back the fruit.

92/95
Derek Smedley MW, April 2012

This isn't quite as good as the 2010 and 2009 Ducrus, but it's not far behind: a concentrated, yet very polished St Julien from the lowest yields ever at the château. Sweet and intense, with hauntingly floral aromas, notes of cassis, plums and currant, fresh acidity and rich, yet silky tannins leading to a bright, refreshing finish. Powerful yet restrained, this is a keeper. 15+ years.

95
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2012

Strikingly floral Cabernet ripeness, finesse and purity, lovely texture, beautifully expressive almost Margaux style, total opposite to Las Cases. Drink 2017-2030.

18
Steven Spurrier, Decanter.com, April 2012
Read more tasting notes...

One of the vintage's stars, the 2011 Ducru Beaucaillou is a riveting blend of 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot. It boasts an inky/blue/purple color as well as an extraordinary nose of creme de cassis, licorice, subtle wood smoke and spring flowers, a surprising, full-bodied mouthfeel, and stunning intensity, purity, symmetry and length. Production at this estate used to be 12,000-15,000 cases, but after instituting a strict selection in addition to the smallest yields ever at this vineyard, it is down to 9,000 cases. The 2011 has considerable tannin, but it is soft and well-integrated. It should drink well for 20+ years. Readers should also be aware of just how sensational the second wine can be.

If you haven't noticed yet, it's time to jump on Bruno Borie's bandwagon for the two wines being produced from separate parts of the Ducru Beaucaillou vineyard.

93/95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (200), April 2012

The 2011 Ducru-Beaucaillou has a focused nose, a melange of red and black fruit, sandalwood, orange rind and humidor, fine delineation, and it coheres in the glass. The palate is fresh and vibrant, well-defined with taut tannins, gaining more depth towards the finish that demonstrates admirable finesse and poise. This is a lovely Saint-Julien, unashamedly classic in style, and it should give another 20 years of drinking pleasure, probably more. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. 2022 - 2040

93
Neal Martin, vinous.com, April 2022

The Grand Vin is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that is being aged in 95% new oak. It has a broody, introspective bouquet compared to the 2009 and 2010 as one would expect, although it is well defined with fine minerality, a seam of dried herbs, a touch of rosemary and thyme underneath a patina of black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a fresh, citric entry. There is a slight hardness to the tannins although that will soften in time, although it is still struck through with a tensile streak. The finish has a firm tannic backbone, hints of soy and a saline touch towards the finish. This is an intriguing Ducru that should repay extended cellaring. Tasted April 2012.

92/94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2012

Fabulous aromas of blackberries, plums, meat and rose petals. Full body, with special richness for the vintage with a sweetness not seen in many wines. Velvety tannins that are polished and beautiful. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot. Little more Merlot than normal.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2012
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.