Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2023

WEINWISSER: "85 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 % Merlot, 30 hl/ha. Dicht verwobenes betörendes Parfüm, frischgepflückte Alpenheidelbeere, edle Cassiswürze und berauschenden Veilchenparfüm, dahinter Minze, Schattenmorellensaft und heller Tabak. Am tiefgründigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, rassiger Säure und durchtrainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten energiegeladenen Finale blaubeerige Konturen, dunkles Graphit und feinkörnige Adstringenz. Kratzt an der höheren Note."

VINUM: "Expressiv, rauchig, floral, dunkelfruchtig, sehr tief; dicht am Gaumen, viel Druck, kein Gramm Fett, top strukturiert, mit Rasse, Biss und sehr schöner Länge, salin im Finish. Sehr klassisch."

DECANTER: "Lovely vibrant purple colour in the glass. Smells fragrant and lifted, a combination of sweet and ripe and fresh blackcurrant and black cherries on the nose with a touch of dark chocolate. Smooth and so silky, but rich too, there’s depth and weight but not too much. I love the texture - grippy and filling no doubt, it coats the mouth with a crushed velvet texture, you feel the ripeness but there’s such lift and effortless purity of fruit that it feels fresh too. No extra fat, but equally it’s not too lean, not strict at all, where many are. Not hollow, not light, there’s no let up. Juicy cherry, blackcurrant and blueberry with lots of liquorice on the finish. Feels well crafted. Maybe not as immediately moreish as some, but this is really well made. Feels elegant and stylish.7pH. 89 IPT. Ageing 18 months, 100% new oak. 12% press."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Saffron, licorice, turmeric, espresso, black cherries, blackberries, mint, and flowers create the perfume. The palate is vibrant, fresh, elegant, concentrated focused. The fruits are ripe, clean, and pure, with a racy, freshness. But, the wine is not overly bright, instead, it is silky, succulent, finesse-oriented, and elegant. The finish holds your attention for close to 50 seconds. The key to the success of the vintage at Ducru was finding the exact moment to pick. Ducru Beaucaillou continues its unstoppable roll of fabulous vintages. Produced from blending 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 15% Merlot, 13% ABV, 3.7 pH. Picking took place from September 8 -- October 3. Drink from 2028-2065."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This has aromas of blackberries and blackcurrant, as well as graphite and flint. Some gunpowder. It’s full-bodied with extremely refined tannins, a creamy character and al-dente fruit at the finish. Crunchy, succulent and linear. Mineral edge to it, like licking a stone. Energetic. 83% cabernet sauvignon and 17% merlot."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 Ducru-Beaucaillou opens with classic great Cabernet notes of blackcurrants, mulberries, and ripe plums leading to a perfume of lilacs, lavender, and pencil shavings with a touch of cardamom. The light to medium-bodied palate is very tightly wound and so, so elegant, with a firm backbone of grainy tannins and wonderful tension giving definition to the black and red berry layers, finishing long and fragrant. This is more structured than most Médoc wines this year and very impressive. The blend is 83% Cabernet Sauvignon and 17% Merlot, with pH 3.70 and TPI 89."

JEB DUNNUCK: "As to the Grand Vin, the 2023 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou brings everything up a level, offering a gorgeous perfume of crème de cassis, spring flowers, graphite, and crushed stone. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, pure, incredibly elegant Ducru that has ample mid-palate depth, building tannins, and a great spine of acidity. It’s another gorgeous wine from this chateau that plays in the style of the 2010, 2016, and 2020. The 2023 is 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, again in new barrels, and it hit 13% alcohol, a pH of 3.7, and an IPT of 89. It will have 50+ years of longevity."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Frische Orangenzesten, reife Herzkirschen, Brombeerkonfitüre, zarte florale Noten, einladendes Bukett, rotbeerige Nuancen. Saftig, elegant, rote Herzkirschen, feine Tannine, frischer Säurebogen, salzig im Abgang, bleibt gut haften, zarte Extraktsüße im Nachhall, besitzt Länge und Reifepotenzial."

JANCIS ROBINSON: JANCIS ROBINSON:" Deep purple-black colour. Better on the palate at the moment, the nose a little wayward. Lovely textural feel on attack, the tannins plentiful but velvety and smooth. Quite ample but also long and driven. Good freshness as well. Ageing potential. Drink 2035 - 2050:"