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1961 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou St. Julien Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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1961
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou  (St. Julien)
99
A stunning example that hit all of its marks, starting with its haunting perfume loaded with tobacco, mushrooms, cedar chest, leather, currants, mint leaf, and cherries. Full-bodied, concentrated, and balanced perfectly between its regal character and layers of still vibrant, earthy, ripe, red fruits. The finish stuck its mark with close to 60 seconds of pleasure in every sip. A good bottle is a majestic tasting experience. Drink from 2023-2035.

A stunning example that hit all of its marks, starting with its haunting perfume loaded with tobacco, mushrooms, cedar chest, leather, currants, mint leaf, and cherries. Full-bodied, concentrated, and balanced perfectly between its regal character and layers of still vibrant, earthy, ripe, red fruits. The finish stuck its mark with close to 60 seconds of pleasure in every sip. A good bottle is a majestic tasting experience. Drink from 2023-2035.

2,218 Views   Tasted
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This is a perfect example of why you age Bordeaux. It took about 10 minutes in the glass before the complex array of scents took charge. Lead pencil, cassis, tobacco, smoke, cigar box and woodsy aromatics were just great. On the palate, the patina of age added to the lush, round, regal textures. The fruit was ripe, sweet, fresh and kept on going. The wine delivered pleasure in the glass for at least 2 hours. Popped and poured, this is a sublime example of mature Bordeaux.

This is a perfect example of why you age Bordeaux. It took about 10 minutes in the glass before the complex array of scents took charge. Lead pencil, cassis, tobacco, smoke, cigar box and woodsy aromatics were just great. On the palate, the patina of age added to the lush, round, regal textures. The fruit was ripe, sweet, fresh and kept on going. The wine delivered pleasure in the glass for at least 2 hours. Popped and poured, this is a sublime example of mature Bordeaux.

3,013 Views   Tasted
Fully mature, the wine still shows freshness, character and loads of ripe, spicy, earthy, tobacco and forest floor notes. Decanting to remove the wine off its sediment was all it needed before it rocked.

Fully mature, the wine still shows freshness, character and loads of ripe, spicy, earthy, tobacco and forest floor notes. Decanting to remove the wine off its sediment was all it needed before it rocked.

2,421 Views   Tasted
A perfect bottle from the chateau, having reached full maturity, this is off the hook. The nose, with its strong, tobacco leaf, Cuban cigar, ash, smoke, lead pencil, cedar chest and crushed rock nuances that blend with the ripe red fruits could keep any taster focused. But it is the length, complexity, texture and levels of concentration in the expansive finish that leaves you with the best memory.

A perfect bottle from the chateau, having reached full maturity, this is off the hook. The nose, with its strong, tobacco leaf, Cuban cigar, ash, smoke, lead pencil, cedar chest and crushed rock nuances that blend with the ripe red fruits could keep any taster focused. But it is the length, complexity, texture and levels of concentration in the expansive finish that leaves you with the best memory.

3,796 Views   Tasted
As the 1961 vintage and I age, sadly, we see less of each other every year. Even sadder, I think the best 61's are aging better than I am... What a beauty, showing the color of ruby tea, the wine is concentrated and intense. Strong notes of Cuban cigar wrapper, tobacco, wet, forest floor, spice, smoke and cherries in the perfume, one the palate, the wine has that sublime patina of age, softening and fattening the wine, allowing the palate a real taste treat.

As the 1961 vintage and I age, sadly, we see less of each other every year. Even sadder, I think the best 61's are aging better than I am... What a beauty, showing the color of ruby tea, the wine is concentrated and intense. Strong notes of Cuban cigar wrapper, tobacco, wet, forest floor, spice, smoke and cherries in the perfume, one the palate, the wine has that sublime patina of age, softening and fattening the wine, allowing the palate a real taste treat.

3,639 Views   Tasted
Fabulous example of mature claret at its best. All the cedar, tobacco, cigar box, forest floor and cherry you can imagine, accompanied by a full bodied, concentrated wine with depth and complexity.

Fabulous example of mature claret at its best. All the cedar, tobacco, cigar box, forest floor and cherry you can imagine, accompanied by a full bodied, concentrated wine with depth and complexity.

3,286 Views   Tasted
Brick in color, with some, tobacco, wild strawberry, cigar box, truffle and decaying leaf notes in the hauntingly, complex set of aromatics. The palate is refined, sensuous and silky, ending with a soft, sweet, ripe and over ripe sensation of spicy red berries that remains on your palate for at least 40 seconds. Bottles with great storage, or in large formats can still age and improve!

Brick in color, with some, tobacco, wild strawberry, cigar box, truffle and decaying leaf notes in the hauntingly, complex set of aromatics. The palate is refined, sensuous and silky, ending with a soft, sweet, ripe and over ripe sensation of spicy red berries that remains on your palate for at least 40 seconds. Bottles with great storage, or in large formats can still age and improve!

5,366 Views   Tasted
Truffles, tobacco, ripe cherries, earth, spice, cedar and leather notes pop from your glass. The wine is still concentrated with a soft, elegant, complex, palate filling finish. This fully mature Bordeaux is a finesse style of traditional St. Julien, The long cherry, cassis finish remains on your palate for over :40 seconds. The memory of drinking it that night at the Chateau stays for a lifetime!

Truffles, tobacco, ripe cherries, earth, spice, cedar and leather notes pop from your glass. The wine is still concentrated with a soft, elegant, complex, palate filling finish. This fully mature Bordeaux is a finesse style of traditional St. Julien, The long cherry, cassis finish remains on your palate for over :40 seconds. The memory of drinking it that night at the Chateau stays for a lifetime!

4,152 Views   Tasted
With its bricky color gave up notes of wood, coffee, earth, tobacco and cassis. Decent weight, but the finish was almost light.

With its bricky color gave up notes of wood, coffee, earth, tobacco and cassis. Decent weight, but the finish was almost light.

3,870 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou is not a wine to drink on the young side. The wine is usually far too tannic, powerful, and reserved during its youth. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 3-4 hours, give or take. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.

Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou is usually better with at least 15 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 18 and 50 years of age after the vintage.

Serving Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Ducru Beaucaillou is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift.

Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, salmon, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.

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