Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou - Saint Julien 2022 750ML

The Grand Vin 2022 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou checks in as 82% Cabernet Sauvignon and 18% Merlot that was raised all in new barrels. Its deep ruby/purple/plum hue is followed by an utterly heavenly Saint-Julien that has pure cassis and darker berry fruits, a core of violets, spring flowers, graphite, and spicy oak, full-bodied richness, and ultra-fine, polished tannins. It's as seamless, pure, and elegant as they come, while at the same time being intense, powerful, and concentrated. It reminds me of the 2010 and is going to warrant a decade of cellaring, and have a solid half-century of prime drinking. For the tech geeks out there, the 2022 hit 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.8 and an IPT of 95. It’s an absolute sensational Saint-Julien from this talented team.

A great, powerful and proportional Ducru with everything in the right place. The aromas and flavors are very precise and beautiful with blackberry, raspberry and citrus undertones. Full-bodied and structured, it has polished electric tannins that are finely layered, well formed and very long.

96-98 Barrel sample. This is a velvet wine on the surface. But its density and concentration are balanced by the superb acidity and perfumed black fruits from the dominant Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has a seriously long-term future.

Wonderfully evocative scents on the nose - perfumed and alluring dark berry fruit. Rich and juicy - fully concentrated fruit meets powdery tannins giving a fleshy aspect to the palate. Smooth and supple, slightly chewy fruit give a cushioning before crisp mineral aspects of wet stone, graphite and toasted liquorice come through. Fully flavoured with a long finish. A great wine that delivers the vintage in a stylish way.

The 2022 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a wine of total sensual allure. All the elements are wonderfully woven together. Black cherry, plum, licorice, chocolate, spice and lavender infuse the palate with striking depth. The sustained, persistent finish is a thing of real beauty. Lifted floral accents extend the finish nicely.