Château Ducru Beaucaillou - Saint-Julien 1989 6b11bd6ba9341f0271941e7df664d056

Asian Palate

89 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe6/1/2016

This is one of Ducru's weaker vintages as Bruno Borie himself admits and there were TCA cork issues during this vintage as well. The wine is light bodied, quite evolved and drying out slightly in the finish.

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe10/12/2015

Given the mass taint problems that blighted Ducru in the late 1980s and 1990, we were either very lucky or a great many bottles were opened to find enough of this quality to serve 280 diners. It’s a real charmer, sublimating the heat of the vintage into a plush but still defined texture, and holding on well to its fruit. Alex Hunt MW

The Wine Cellar Insider

91 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/19/2014

Jean-Marc QUARIN

94 / 100

byJean-Marc Quarinthe10/1/2010

Wine Spectator

89 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe5/31/1999

Dark-ruby in color and a hint of brick red at the edge. Ripe fruit aromas of plums and raspberries. Full-bodied and very soft, with round tannins and a delicious chocolaty aftertaste. Slightly dry, papery finish.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal. Drink now through 2005.

Wine Advocate

89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1997

Ducru's 1989 was one of the more tannic, backward wines in the blind tasting. It is cleanly made, and well-crafted, with plenty of black-raspberry and cassis fruit nicely touched by minerals and a fragrant, floral component. Medium-bodied, elegant, and well-endowed, this is a potentially outstanding wine if all the tannin melts away over the next 5-6 years. One of the least flattering 1989s to drink at present, it requires 4-5 more years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2001-2020.

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe8/31/1993

The 1989 tastes like a hypothetical blend of their 1986 and 1982. It is less powerful and concentrated than the 1982, but not nearly as backward nor as tannic as the 1986. Dark ruby, with a more perfumed, toasty character than usual, this medium-bodied, currant-flavored wine exhibits plenty of depth, low acidity, good tannins, and an understated yet authoritative style that makes it a benchmark for its type. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2020. Last tasted, 5/93.

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1993

In 1989 Ducru-Beaucaillou made an exceptional wine. It tastes like a hypothetical blend of their 1986 and 1982. Less powerful and concentrated than the 1982, but not nearly as backward nor as tannic as the 1986, the 1989 is one of the Medoc's most elegantly rendered wines. Dark ruby, with a more perfumed, toasty character than usual, this medium-bodied, earthy, currant and mineral-flavored wine exhibits plenty of depth, surprising acidity for the vintage, firm tannins, and an understated yet authoritative style that makes it a benchmark for its type. Anticipated maturity: 1998- 2020.

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1992

Ducru-Beaucaillou has made another exceptional wine in 1989 that tastes like a hypothetical blend of their 1986 and 1982. Less powerful and concentrated than the 1982, but not nearly as backward nor as tannic as the 1986, the 1989 is one of the Medoc's most elegantly rendered wines. Dark ruby, with a more perfumed, toasty character than usual, this medium-bodied, earthy, currant and mineral-flavored wine exhibits plenty of depth, surprisingly high acidity for the vintage, good tannins, and an understated yet authoritative style that makes it a benchmark for its type. It is already beginning to close up. Anticipated maturity: 1998-2020. Tasted five times. Consistent notes.