Château Ducru-Beaucaillou - St.-Julien 2012 (750ml)
Price: $268.00
| Producer | Château Ducru-Beaucaillou |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St. Julien |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2012 |
| Sku | 7797 |
| Size | 750ml |
Decanter: 96 Points
This displays clear traces of coffee bean dark chocolate and a swirl of creamy mocha - I can see a parallel with the La Croix 2012. The texture is silky with the pressure from the tannins suggesting just how well this will age. No need to wait too long to get going on this wine though and it has a gourmet edge that's hard to resist. -Jane Anson 09/19
James Suckling: 95 Points
Mesmerizing aromas of blackberries licorice and mint. Wet stones too. Full-bodied and tight with super-refined and polished tannins that are pinpointed and elegant. It caresses your palate. Savory and salty on finish. Electric for the vintage. Better in 2018.
Jeb Dunnuck: 94 Points
I loved the 2012 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou a more up-front supple approachable and seamless wine that has plenty of classic Ducru Beaucaillou purity and elegance with its structure nicely integrated and balanced. Ripe currants dried tobacco smoked earth and chocolaty nuances all give way to a medium to full-bodied layered forward Saint-Julien that can be enjoyed any time over the coming two decades and I have no doubt given the overall balance here that it will have a gradual decline thereafter.
The Wine Independent: 94 Points
Made from 90% Cabernet Sauvignon and 10% Merlot the 2012 Ducru-Beaucaillou is deep garnet in color. It comes barreling out of the glass with bold notions of plum preserves black cherry compote and warm cassis followed by hints of cardamom pencil shavings and bay leaves. The medium-bodied palate is wonderfully savory with a lively line and firm yet approachable tannins supporting the muscular black fruits finishing with impressive energy. It is drinking nicely now but there is no rush to broach it.
Wine Advocate: 93 Points
Deep garnet in color the 2012 Ducru-Beaucaillou offers up expressive exuberant scents of warm kirsch black raspberries and wild blueberries with hints of sassafras cedar chest pencil lead and dried mint plus a waft of dried leaves. Medium-bodied the palate has lovely freshness and a fair bit of chew complementing the youthful black and red fruit layers finishing on a lingering earthy note. Published: Aug 13 2020
Vinous: 92 Points
The 2012 Ducru-Beaucaillou which was matured in 95% new oak rather than 100% was always a bit stubborn on the nose. Here I feel it has opened marginally. Black olives and blood orange scents infuse the black fruit just a hint of lavender develop with aeration. Very perfumed after 5-10 minutes. The palate is medium-bodied with smooth saturated tannins fine acidity quite intense and pastille-like. The finish feels monochromatic compared to the superior 2014 maybe the wood is just singing from a different hymn sheet. Quite exuberant maybe even flashy it does not quite deliver the complexity of a Ducru firing on all cylinders. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. - By Neal Martin on June 2021
