Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 2018 Cru Classe, St. Julien

#6 Wine Enthusiast Top Cellar Selections 2021

The celebrated Classified Growth from St. Julien that Robert Parker has called the "Lafite Rothschild of St.-Julien." Owned by the famous Borie family who owns several of the finest properties in the Medoc. This wine is a true rarity, a wine that would ordinarily only be attainable at auction. Sourced from the Chateau cellars with three decades of bottle age, it's a Classified Bordeaux that's offering full expression and nuance.

2018 was an outstanding vintage. Wine Enthusiast Magazine awarded this a Cellar Selection (#6 Cellar Selection of 2021) and scored it 100 points saying "Vintage 2018 was generous to the style of Ducru-Beaucaillou. The rich character of wines from this estate is enhanced by the ripeness and concentration of this wine. At the same time, it keeps an amazing freshness that comes out of the acidity. This wine will go down in the annals of this historic estate. It is not likely to approach drinkability before 2028."

James Suckling scored this 99 points saying "Aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, new leather and bark follow through to a full body with a dense, deep palate that goes on and on, but is still shy and reserved. Large amount of ultra-fine, cashmere-like tannins that are silky, sleek and wonderfully integrated. Extremely long and focused. Needs at least four to five years to start opening. A beautiful wine for the cellar. Try after 2027."

The Wine Advocate scored this 98 points saying "The 2018 Ducru-Beaucaillou is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, aged 18 months in 100% new barriques. It has a pH of 3.7, 14.5% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 95. Deep purple-black colored, it has a powerful nose of baked black cherries, blackberry preserves and crème de cassis with nuances of menthol, pencil lead, cedar chest and Indian spices, plus fragrant wafts of violets and licorice emerging after a few minutes. Medium to full-bodied, the palate bursts with impactful black fruits and exotic spices layers, supported by firm, ripe grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing on a lingering fragrant earth note. There is a brightness to the wine—surprising freshness—and yet it remains very rich and hedonic, presenting an extraordinary vinous paradox that will blow away fans of this great estate."

Decanter Magazine scored this 97 points saying "Extremely complex, this is tight and holds on with an initial austerity. The plentiful tannins layer up right through the palate, but they are sandwiched by gorgeous blackberry and cassis fruits. There's an inkiness and a spice box feel here, with notes of dried herbs, black olive tapenade and graphite, all generously present. The longer the wine stays in the glass, the more the flesh of the fruit takes precedence and yet the wine manages to also convey a St-Julien classicism. This has all the elements to age exceptionally well, and to give great pleasure along the way." Limited!