Château Ducru Beaucaillou - Saint-Julien 2005

La Revue du Vin de France

18,5 / 20

le 20/10/2014

Tout en conservant un charme incroyable, Ducru-Beaucaillou 2005 commence à s'ouvrir mais n'a pas atteint son apogée. Après un passage en carafe, ce vin révèle au nez des notes très subtiles de fruits noirs. La bouche est encore d'une grande jeunesse, avec de la vigueur, et de l'éclat. Sa trame tannique se desserre. Un vin admirable soyeux.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

par Neal Martin le 13/06/2009

Tasted single blind at Southwold. In retrospect I may have been parsimonious with my score out of barrel because this Ducru shone in a blind horizontal. It has a very “strict”, cedar-infused nose with touches of sandalwood and bacon fat. Good definition. The palate has very good fruit concentration, supple blackberry, raspberry and dark cherry all wrapped up in lovely definition and purity. Very good breeding here – one of the top Saint Julien wines of the vintage. Drink 2012-2035. Tasted January 2009.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

94 / 100

par Stephen Tanzer le 30/06/2008

Good deep ruby-red. Wonderfully sweet, aromatic nose combines currant, chocolate and cedary oak. Fat, lush and silky, with atypical volume to the flavors of plum, tobacco and chocolate. Wonderfully supple, plump wine with layers of flavor, thoroughly sweet tannins and compelling aromatic persistence. Today the wine's substantial baby fat is masking its impressive underlying power. According to Borie, this 2005 combines the best traits of the chateau's 2003 and 2000.

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 07/05/2008

The 2005 Ducru Beaucaillou is a 10,000-case blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot (they used to produce 18,000-20,000 cases). It is an exceptionally powerful wine with a dense purple color, superb intensity, and a beautiful, sweet nose of spring flowers, raspberries, blueberries, graphite, and creme de cassis. Full-bodied with fabulous concentration, exceptionally high tannin, good acidity, and massive layers of richness that build incrementally on the palate, this monumental effort is more structured than their outstanding 2003. It may be the finest wine produced at this estate since the 1982 and 1961 Ducrus. Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050.

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

par James Suckling le 22/02/2008

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

par Robert Parker le 04/05/2007

Another St.-Julien that has put on significant weight since I tasted it last year, Bruno Borie’s blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot (10,000 cases rather than the typical 18,000-20,000) is a powerful effort boasting 13.6% alcohol. Its inky/purple color is followed by an extraordinary nose of violets, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Full-bodied with fabulous intensity, great acidity, and huge tannins, it is an amazingly vivid, full-bodied wine with monster levels of richness and tannin. Although made in a totally different style, it ranks alongside the monumental 2003. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2050.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

par Robert Parker le 27/04/2006

Bruno Borie has done a fabulous job at Ducru Beaucaillou. The 2003 may be the greatest Ducru produced in the last 3-4 decades, and the 2005 is not far behind. A more backward style of wine with higher tannin, more elevated acids, and extremely high alcohol (13.6%) for this estate, its inky/purple color is followed by notes of sweet cassis and plums intermixed with licorice, crushed rocks, and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied and structured with a whoppingly long finish, it needs 8-10 years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030+. It is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon and 33% Merlot.

Wine Spectator

95-100 / 100

par James Suckling le 28/03/2006

Intense exotic aromas of crushed blackberries, lilacs and hints of vanilla. Full-bodied, with a solid core of fruit and big, silky tannins. This is extremely layered, with a polished caressing texture. Long, long finish. Builds on the palate. Will it be better than 2003? Time will tell. —J.S. .