What is your favourite vintage of Ch. Ducru Beaucaillou?

[Comte Flaneur]

One of the very first Bordeaux I ever drunk as a young whippersnapper was the 1974 from my girl friend’s cellar in the south of France in the 1980s. It drank well and left an impression on me because I had never tasted anything like it, and the yellow label left a distinct impression too. Ever since I have been mesmerised by the mystique of Ducru Beaucaillou, which I saw as an estate deeply rooted in tradition and a wine of the finest pedigree.

I think the 1970s was a good decade for Ducru, I have had a couple of impressive 1975s with dusty tannins a good 1976 a couple of excellent 1978s but too many flawed or corked ones. From that decade the 1970 has been the stand out. Good bottles are truly memorable. In the 1980s I have had good and not so great bottles of the 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986, one or two good bottles of 1988 and 1990 too but no good bottles of 1989 (of course we know why 1988-90 was so troublesome). The 1980s was a disappointment mainly because of the bottle variation because there have been some great bottles in amongst the disappointments.

Fast forward to the 2000s and Ducru took a bit of a walk on the dark side when Bruno took over flirting with gaucheness and modernism. The only wine I have tried which I really liked from 2001 was the 2009 which Is such an extrovert you can’t help but love it ... but you can’t say it is what one associated with a traditional Ducru. I ha e t tried the 2010 and. Ant remember tasting the 2005. I include the 2000 in the 1990s (pre-Bruno) era, and it is a magnificent wine coming after the rather impressive and suave 1999.

The only other wine which challenges the 2000 is the 1995. The 1996 May eventually but is still pretty closed down. In my opinion the greatest ever Ducru is the 2000, followed by the 1995 and then the 1970. I haven’t drunk enough of it to say it is my favourite but have invested in more than a case of both the 1995 and 2000.

[stefan]

A good bottle of 1978 is my favorite, but my experience is the same as yours, Ian. Many bottles of 1978 are corked or at least flat. I have also had excellent 1975s and a 1976 we drank last year was wonderful. 1995, 1996, and 2000 are excellent but still improving. My experience with 1986 has been very good. I was lucky with the few 1982s I was lucky enough to drink courtesy of friends. 1988 - 2000 I avoided after initial bad experiences. I have little experience drinking the younger Ducrus and will not comment on them.

If you go back in time.... 1961 was outstanding in all respects. 1962 was lovely. 1964 had a beautiful bouquet but was light. 1966 was solid to the core, but did not give me the high of the fragrant 1964. 1967 was good in the context of the vintage. 1970 was an excellent wine. Never had a bad bottle. Just not enough flowers to send me to heaven.

If I have to pick just one vintage, I guess it is 1961 even if 1964 and 1978 provided me higher highs. Any of 1995, 1996, and 2000 might rise to the top in a few years.

[DavidG]

1982 bests the 1995 and 1996 IMO but the 1996 is still improving and will likely take the crown from 1982.

I can't comment on the 2000 because I somehow managed to not buy any.

Can't comment on the 2005 because mine are still resting.

So 1982 but not based on enough experience to be certain.

[Nicklasss]

I had a few Ducru Beaucaillou in my life, probably the 1966, 1970, 1975, 1978, 1983, 1986, 1990, 1996 and 2001.

All the bottles of 1978 I had were all in great conditions, so that would be my favorite.

The 1996 is already super and will developp in something even better. The lone bottle of 1975 I bought in the past was also excellent.

In that bunch, only the 1990 and 2001 have been as fun as meeting a skunk during a clear calm night. You want to run away!

Nic

[Blanquito]

I haven’t had many Ducru, but that said... My top Ducru was a wonderful bottle of the 1970 that some of us shared at one of J&J’s pool parties. That was a wow wine for me that day.

I was highly impressed by the 96 you opened Ian with Arv and me in 2006 at a steak house in Manhattan (Morton’s?), but it was so young. Never had the 95 Ducru and I keep getting sniped at auction trying to pick up a bottle.

Stuart's 82 acquitted itself very nicely in 2016, but was outclassed by the 82 Haut Brion and 82 Lafleur— in fact that bottle might have been better a few years earlier.

I believe we had the 86 at the big Fabio’s horizontal but I don’t recall it standing out.

[dstgolf]

Here's a few reasons Ian loves Ducru. I hope this is how this works??!!


https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Y35AMHcJxxDyVQI2

[Comte Flaneur]

Happy memories Danny! I think from memory we arrived late and had all had a skinful of Pontet Canet!

Patrick I remember the 1986 at our 1986 dinner. It showed very well. I had it in the second three after the Big Three if you follow my drift. I am half way through a case and had it back to back with the 1995, which however was the better wine.

The 1995 is turning out to be magnificent, and I suspect 1995-2000 was a golden era for Ducru. I have had the 1982 quite a few times. On one occasion it ran rings around Montrose 1989 but on too many occasions it has been uninspiring.

The last time I had the 1985 at a 1985 horizontal it was superb. I wish I had tasted more from the 1960s and the 1959.

[JimHow]

SF Ed and I and a couple others had a 1961 Ducru in Boston in the early days of BWE, it was spectacular.

[sdr]

Yes, the ‘61 is my all time favorite Ducru, but that was a long time ago. I wonder if it is still alive.

I am impressed by the 2000. The ‘66 is interesting but probably past it’s best. The ‘70 is very austere but good in a traditional way. The ‘82 is extremely variable, as noted. I both bought and sold it several times. Eighty-five was pleasant but light. I’d like to try some younger Ducru.

Stu

[Harry C.]

For them to release 87-90 on us consumers, find out 50%(?) are corked, not provide any recourse is all I need to know. I have not bought DB since and until sold to totally new owners , will never.

[Winona Chief]

Had great success with a 375 of 1966 Ducru B just two years ago (Jan 2016) - was quite a surprise considering its age. When I first got into wine (late 70s), I liked the 1970 and 1971. Actually enjoyed the 1973 as well. More recently the 1995 and 1996 have been favorites. Hard to say which one is my favorite.

Chris Bublitz

[AKR]

I was highly impressed by the 96 you opened Ian with Arv and me in 2006 at a steak house in Manhattan (Morton’s?), but it was so young. Never had the 95 Ducru and I keep getting sniped at auction trying to pick up a bottle.

For some reason, I thought it was Maloney & Porcelli, a defunct chophouse named after the S&W liquor lawyers firm.

Ducru is probably my wife's favorite St Julien.

I guess if someone put a gun to my head and forced me to choose, I'd go with 1996....but it seems like nearly all the years are quite good.