Château Ducru Beaucaillou 2015

The 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou is very reminiscent of the style of the vintage with dark berry aromas, smoky notes, spices, liquorice, and graphite. Very elegant oaky frame with air. On the palate, there is both unctuosity and freshness, but also an animal note and sappy, velvety tannins. The imposing tannic structure has yet to smooth out, but underneath there is remarkable depth and substance. It will take some time for this racy thoroughbred to hit its stride.

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 Ducru-Beaucaillou rocks up with flamboyant baked black plums, crème de cassis, blueberry compote and chocolate-covered cherries scents plus hints of cinnamon stick, black tea and candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with black fruit preserves and spicy accents, with a firm, velvety frame and finishing with great length and perfume. Ideally, I'd give it another year to fan out just a bit more, but it is coming around nicely and is already fantastically delicious!

Aromas of oyster shell, iron and currants. Hints of iodine. Full-bodied, very tight and focused. Love the finish of sandalwood, cinnamon, violets and lavender. Wonderful tannin texture. Linear and driven. Drink in 2022.

With its 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine has super-ripe black-currant flavors encased in firm, smoky tannins and hints of wood. Showing the opulence of the vintage and the style of Saint-Julien, it will age for many years. The wine will certainly not be ready before 2026.

The 2015 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is up-front, ripe, and incredibly sexy, yet it holds onto a terrific sense of balance and elegance. Crème de cassis, minty herbs, tobacco, and violet notes all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, elegant, polished tannins, and beautiful overall purity. From a hot vintage that saw rain at the end of the year, it's not a massive or over-the-top effort in any way, and it certainly offers plenty of pleasure even today, although it’s still quite young and unevolved. If push comes to shove, I think the 2014 is slightly more successful. Give bottles another 2-4 years and enjoy over the following 25-30 years.