Château Ducru Beaucaillou Saint Julien 2005

BN#178718

Château Ducru Beaucaillou

The 2005 vintage was characterized by an exceptional climate, particularly in the Summer. It was: Very sunny, with almost 2,000 hours of sunshine from May to September, which was 7.5% above average. Hot but not scorching and overall with colder nights. Excessively dry. Rainfall was 45% lower than the yearly average and there was a water shortage of 350mm in the Summer. With an exceptional climate come exceptional grapes.

Wine Advocate

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.

Score: 97. —Robert Parker, April 2008.

Wine Spectator

Aromas of blackberry, currant and toasty oak, with a hint of spice, lead to a full-bodied palate, with plenty of blackberry, chocolate and Indian spices. Balanced, refined and very pretty, with a velvety texture and a long, beautifully textured finish. Best after 2013.

Score: 95. —James Suckling, March 31, 2008.

Wine Enthusiast

Barrel sample. Huge blackcurrant fruits dominate a wine that is powerful and showing very ripe. There are flavors of smoky, balanced tannins, bitter cherries, black figs. As all the great wines in 2005, it finishes with a delicious lift of acidity.

Score: 94-96. —Roger Voss, June 20, 2006.