Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2021

WEINWISSER: "Sein anziehendes Bouquet verströmt viel dunkle Cassis-Frucht, schokoladige Noten, Teer und ätherische Würze bei mittlerer Fülle. Der Hintergrund verspricht für die Zukunft noch deutlich mehr Wucht, doch die angezeigte Konzentration ist bereits jetzt hoch und erzeugt einen dichtgewebten, undurchdringlichen, wenn auch leicht wirkenden Geruchsteppich. Satt und füllig beginnt der Ducru gleich vorne im Mund und schwingt sich zu einem körperreichen, sehr konzentrierten Wein auf, der mit viel Gerbstoffwürze und mächtiger Struktur aufwartet, dabei aber nicht in die Breite geht. Die Extraktion ist wie in den vergangenen Jahren bis ans Maximum getrieben und der Körper erscheint sehr füllig. Erst hinten wird er ein wenig zarter, ohne schlank zu sein. Der 2021er ist ein strukturbetonter St.-Julien mit festem Händedruck, der an Pauillac Ein absolut traumhaftes Dreier-Gespann von Margaux. erinnert, dunkelbeerige Aromen strömen unaufhörlich mittig orientiert nach. Nicht maximalinvasiv, doch eher rassig und druckvoll im klassischen Sinne. Ein begeisternder Ducru, der viel zu erzählen hat und mir mit seinen 12.5 Vol.-% angenehmer erscheint als mancher Blockbuster-Jahrgang der jüngeren Vergangenheit."

DECANTER: "Richly scented and vibrant nose of dark fruits, liquorice and cocoa. Supple and invigorating, fresh acidity lifting the expression, nuanced and detailed. Softly grained tannins have a chalky aspect giving structure and a filling texture, lots of graphite and wet stones with black berry notes and such energy throughout. Juicy and alive, this is classic in the best sense, and has immediate charm but with the potential to age. I also love the fresh, zesty orange aspects and cool lift throughout."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Classy, and classic, elegant, and refined, I love the purity in the red fruits here in nose, and on the palate. Produced from the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the history of the estate, with just a bit of effort you find its aromatic wealth displaying cherries, blackberries, tobacco leaf, flowers, mint, espresso. and spices. The palate is vibrant, regal, slightly firm, crisp, and energetic. The finish delivers its red berries with their spicy edge, and delicate sprig of mint easily. The wine blends 98% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Merlot. Drink from 2027-2060."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Almost entirely Cabernet, this wine is packed with aromatic black-currant fruits. It is impressively rich with solid tannins and black plum, walnut and berry flavors. Drink this powerful wine from 2028 at the earliest."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Firm, structured and pure with a cool and solid core of dark currants, blackberries, tar, pencil lead and bitter chocolate. Hints of tobacco, too. Firm but silky tannins. Very pure, with a long, mineral finish. Intense and very focused. 98% cabernet sauvignon and 2% merlot."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2021 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of the top wines of the vintage. It’s based on 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, harvested from September 21 to October 10, that was vinified in wooden tronconique tanks and brought up all in new barrels. It has a deep ruby/plum hue to go with classic Ducru notes of pure crème de cassis, graphite, crushed stone, and violets, with a kiss of background tobacco and spicy oak. Medium to full-bodied, deep, rich, and concentrated, it has a beautiful mid-palate, ripe, building tannins, and a gorgeous finish. Checking in as 12.5% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.88, hats off to the genius of Bruno Borie and his team for producing a truly Grand Vin in this challenging vintage."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A wine that will delight Médoc purists, the 2021 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a blend of fully 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot and checks in at a mere 12.5% alcohol. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper, violets, loamy soil and spices, it's full-bodied, layered and velvety, with superb depth at the core, lively acids and powdery tannins. Complete and penetrating, it's a true classic, reminiscent of a modern-day version of Ducru's brilliant 1996—though today's precision winemaking means that the 2021 is unlikely to go through so long a hibernation as that vintage."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Edelholznuancen, schwarze Waldbeeren, Cassis, Brombeeren, ein Hauch von frischen Orangenzesten, facettenreiches Bukett. Saftig, frische, knackige Waldbeeren, zart nach Preiselbeeren, feine Tannine, lebendig, salziger Touch, sehr gute Länge, elegant und animierend, ein Wein mit Noblesse."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Merlot, the 2021 Ducru-Beaucaillou is deep garnet-purple in color. It leaps from the glass with bold notions of fresh blackcurrants, wild strawberries, lavender, and boysenberries, giving way to a pepper and spice-laced undercurrent. The light-bodied palate delivers impressive tension, with fine-grained tannins and vivacious black and red berry layers, finishing with a spicy kick."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Black core with purplish rim. Powerful, savoury, black olive and pure black fruit, deliciously shaped by the very high Cabernet percentage. Really tannic at the moment but the tannins are not aggressive. Concentrated, dark, savoury."