2005 Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien, Case of 12 btls

LP98 "The 2005 Ducru-Beaucaillou, 63% Cabernet Sauvignon and 37% Merlot, is deep garnet in color with a touch of brick. It needs a fair bit of shaking before it erupts with the most spectacular perfume of kirsch, warm cassis, rose oil, and licorice, followed by hints of unsmoked cigars, crushed rocks, and fragrant soil. The medium to full-bodied palate has a firm, grainy texture and compelling tension, beautifully framing the red and black fruit layers, and finishing with a firework display of floral and mineral notes." LPB for TWI Sep 2023

JD98 "The 2005 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is still stunning, with an incredible bouquet of ripe currants, spicy herbs, tobacco, and smoke, with a kiss of savory flowers in the background. Rich, full-bodied, and powerful on the palate, it has nicely integrated tannins, a layered mouthfeel, and awesome length on the finish. It's just now at the early stages of its prime drinking window and has another 30 years or so of prime drinking." JD Apr 2024

RP97 "Deep garnet colored, the 2005 Ducru-Beaucaillou needs a little coaxing before slipping sensuously out of the glass with the most alluring perfume of red roses, kirsch, star anise, cardamom and fragrant earth over a core of blackcurrant pastilles, blackberry preserves and warm plums plus a touch of tobacco. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a wonderfully taut, tightly knit frame of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness supporting the densely packed fruit, finishing long and perfumed." LPB for TWA Aug 2020