Farr Vintners Logo

Ducru Beaucaillou 2015

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

Aromas of oyster shell, iron and currants. Hints of iodine. Full-bodied, very tight and focused. Love the finish of sandalwood, cinnamon, violets and lavender. Wonderful tannin texture. Linear and driven. Drink in 2022.

97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2018

The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou has a high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon at 95%, with just 5% Merlot in the blend. Deep garnet colored, it prances out of the glass with flamboyant notes of rose oil, sandalwood, and star anise, leading to a core of kirsch, warm cassis, and redcurrant jelly, plus a waft of cardamom. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is coated with opulent exotic spices and red and black berry preserves layers, framed by velvety tannins and lovely tension, finishing long and seductive.

98
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, November 2022

Tasted blind. Mid garnet. Hint of old socks on the nose. Then lovely fresh, rosy fruit on the palate that almost disguises the tannin (like Montrose). Fascinating wine. Is this the Ducru? Long and intriguing.
Drink 2024-2045

18
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2019

The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a Cabernet Sauvignon dominated wine (there’s 5% Merlot) that was brought up in 100% new barrels. It’s a classic, elegant, classy 2015 revealing a deep, saturated purple color as well as terrific notes of crème de cassis, smoked earth, lead pencil, and violets. With full-bodied richness, ultra-fine tannin, and a stacked mid-palate, it should start to shine in 6-7 years and keep for three decades. 2024 - 2054

96
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, November 2017

The black fruits on the nose are ripe the palate sweet with rich black cherry backed by chocolate and coffee. Fine well handled tannins support the back palate is supple and fleshy but there is underlying freshness bright at the back bilberry freshness under the ripe black cherry. The fruit lingers on the finish stylish with an elegant charm.

93/96
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2016

Containing the highest ever percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon at Ducru, this is a wine of
structure and impressive energy that was aged in 100% new oak. Rich, dense and complex,
it’s gutsy and profound, with polished tannins, blackberry and blackcurrant sweetness and a
long, tapering finish. Drink: 2025-40

96
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2016

There is considerable power and weight here with some seriously lush black fruit and lots of green flashes and highlights
among the massive oak intensity and relentless drive of flavour. There is no excess in any department, but the combination
of the elements is integrated beautifully and with stylish touches of spice and detail this is a wine which will live
for a very long time.

18+
Matthew Jukes, Matthew Jukes' Blog, April 2016
Read more tasting notes...

Composed of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is provocatively and profoundly scented of chocolate-covered cherries, fresh black currants, crushed blueberries and licorice with touches of cigar box, roses and violets plus hints of black pepper and tapenade. Medium to full-bodied, rich and sultry with tons of seductive layers and firm, wonderfully velvety tannins, it has a very long, multilayered finish. 2023 - 2048

97
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Interim Fe), February 2018

The 2015 Ducru Beaucaillou is a blend of 95% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Merlot, picked from around 28 September to 6 October. Matured in 100% new oak for what will be 18 months, delivering 13.5% alcohol, it has a relatively opulent bouquet for Saint Julien, with ripe black plum mixed with blackberry and cranberry, very well defined and neatly interwoven with the new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly savory opening, gently but insistently gripping the mouth. It feels dense and structured with a subtle marine-like note towards the linear, black olive-tinged finish. Bruno Borie has a 2015 with backbone, with longevity in mind. I suspect this will require a decade for the tannins to soften and continue the purple patch for this grand estate. Drink 2025 - 2050.

94/96
Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (224), April 2016

A dense and compressed red with loads of blackberry and blueberry character. Fresh wet vineyard soil. Some mushroom too. Full and very tannic yet polished and very refined. Super balance and depth.

95/96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2016

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou rocks up with flamboyant baked black plums, crème de cassis, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries scents plus hints of cinnamon stick, black tea and candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with black fruit preserves and spicy accents, with a firm, velvety frame and finishing with great length and perfume. Ideally, I'd give it another year to fan out just a bit more, but it is coming around nicely and is already fantastically delicious! 2022 - 2057

97
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Aug 2020 W), August 2020

Very deep. Lifted and fresh. Very correct and unforced. Very sweet. Only just not too sweet… Transparent. Very expressive. Lively and fresh but a bit sinewy. 13.42%
Drink 2023-2036

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2016
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.