| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
Ducru Beaucaillou is on top form these days. Bruno Borie has made some very serious wines at Ducru in recent vintages with many vats previously destined for the grand vin now being used for the second or third labels. Bruno's policy is now to only select fruit from the heart of the Ducru vineyard, overlooking the estuary, for the grand vin. Ducru is clearly back where it belongs at the top of the super-second league. Replanting of key sites is ongoing in order to further improve the quality here and production levels are about half what they were twenty years ago.
The 2025 was made from a yield of 22 hl/ha and the grapes had very thick skins. It is 79% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 13.5% alcohol. Bruno compares it to his 2010 vintage.
Deep and lustrous in colour and aromatic expression. Sweet, supple and ripe fruit leads the nose, but there is an underlying freshness to hold everything together. This follows on the palate, which has a little opulence but equal tension, creating an excellent interplay of seduction and depth. Long, sweet cassis and slightly flashy, creamy wood meet vibrant acidity and flecks of hedgerow. The result is excellent.
The intensity is very impressive on the nose, with black currants, raspberries and graphite. Medium- to full-bodied with a powerful structure of steely tannins that are polished and long. Turns fluid, fine and chewy at the end. Wait and see. A blend of 79% cabernet sauvignon and 21% merlot.
Stunning, nuanced, and just full of joy. Reserved flesh, toasted cumin, fresh blueberries and raspberries with rich seams of cassis, fresh pomegranate, and cappuccino, this is very Ducru in its width and breadth, but with a freshness and lift that is very much of the 2025 vintage. Almost certainly this will close down for a number of years, but all is well controlled, with quiet confidence. A wine you will be happy to spend a lot of time with. 3.74 pH. Harvest September 2 to 23, 100% new oak. Bruno Borie owner. 2036-2055.
The 2025 Ducru-Beaucaillou is fabulous. Vibrant red/purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, mint and blood orange are all beautifully sculpted. The purity of the fruit is just remarkable. New oak is 100%, but lower toast levels and a more dialed-in approach here are palpable. Gorgeous floral and savory Cabernet top notes lift the finish. Superb, and one of the highlights of the year, Ducru is absolutely stunning in 2025. 2035-2065.
