2022 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien
The 2022 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien is an outstanding Bordeaux wine that showcases the finesse, power, and complexity of the region. This red wine blend presents a deep, garnet color that alludes to its concentration. The nose is captivating, offering an enticing fusion of black fruits like blackberries and blackcurrants, intertwined with notes of cedar, tobacco, and spices. On the palate, it displays a harmonious balance of strength and elegance, with refined tannins and a vibrant acidity. Flavors of dark cherries, cassis, chocolate, and hints of licorice dance on the palate. The wine culminates in a long, lingering finish, promising an exceptional aging potential and a truly memorable tasting experience.
Jeb Dunnuck
Moving to the Grand Vin, it's a slightly more Merlot-influenced blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot, raised in new barrels. It brings the same level of concentration and structure as the La Croix but has another level of class, elegance, and purity, with sensational aromatics of crème de cassis, graphite, crushed stone, sandalwood, and graphite. The purity here is truly remarkable, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, perfectly integrated oak, silky tannins, and a great finish. This beauty hit 14% natural alcohol with a pH of 3.8 and an IPT of 95. Given its balance as well as its texture, it's going to offer pleasure with just short-term cellaring yet also evolve for decades.
James Suckling
Some much creme de cassis and blackcurrant aromas and flavors here. Full-bodied with powerful tannins, yet fine and layered. Chewy. You can really feel the thick grape skins here. Excellent length. Tannins spread across the palate. Minerally and crushed stone.