1982 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou St. Julien Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

128892 Views

1982
98
One of the recently released bottles from Ducru Beaucaillou, which you can tell, as it sports the modern design, was about as good a bottle of 82 Ducru as you are ever going to have. Full-bodied, elegant, rich, multi-layered, and multi-faceted, the tobacco, cedar, currant, and wet forest profile on the nose was great. But the layers of ripe, lush, rich fruits with their silky, refined tannins stole the show. Popped and poured, perhaps 30 minutes or so would have improved the experience, but as the wine developed in the glass, we were more than happy.

One of the recently released bottles from Ducru Beaucaillou, which you can tell, as it sports the modern design, was about as good a bottle of 82 Ducru as you are ever going to have. Full-bodied, elegant, rich, multi-layered, and multi-faceted, the tobacco, cedar, currant, and wet forest profile on the nose was great. But the layers of ripe, lush, rich fruits with their silky, refined tannins stole the show. Popped and poured, perhaps 30 minutes or so would have improved the experience, but as the wine developed in the glass, we were more than happy.

3,514 Views   Tasted
From magnum, this bottle was sublime. With just 20-30 minutes of air, cedar, tobacco, cigar box, red currants, forest floor, and fallen leaf aromas created a distinctive perfume. Full-bodied, concentrated, regal, and packed with multiple layers of ripe red fruits, spice, and tobacco, this is truly in its prime time drinking window.

From magnum, this bottle was sublime. With just 20-30 minutes of air, cedar, tobacco, cigar box, red currants, forest floor, and fallen leaf aromas created a distinctive perfume. Full-bodied, concentrated, regal, and packed with multiple layers of ripe red fruits, spice, and tobacco, this is truly in its prime time drinking window.

4,935 Views   Tasted
At full maturity, the wine offers a complex, full-bodied, elegant, refined mouthful of ripe, red berries. The cedar, tobacco leaf, spice and blast of cassis with crisp cherries and a sprig of herbs is singing at full-throttle today. I am sure this is going to remain at this high level for at least 2 decades or so.

At full maturity, the wine offers a complex, full-bodied, elegant, refined mouthful of ripe, red berries. The cedar, tobacco leaf, spice and blast of cassis with crisp cherries and a sprig of herbs is singing at full-throttle today. I am sure this is going to remain at this high level for at least 2 decades or so.

4,182 Views   Tasted
Fully mature, this is an exciting wine to taste. Full-bodied, with depth and complexity, the nose with its crushed rock, tobacco and wet forest floor makeup grabs you. On the palate, the wine, with its soft tannins and patina of age tastes as good as it feels. The fruit and freshness in the endnote keeps on going. This is close to its peak, but there is no hurry, if it is well stored.

Fully mature, this is an exciting wine to taste. Full-bodied, with depth and complexity, the nose with its crushed rock, tobacco and wet forest floor makeup grabs you. On the palate, the wine, with its soft tannins and patina of age tastes as good as it feels. The fruit and freshness in the endnote keeps on going. This is close to its peak, but there is no hurry, if it is well stored.

4,290 Views   Tasted
A fabulous, fully mature wine, you find concentration of flavor, intensity in the aromatics and a long, richly textured finish, with silky, round, polished tannins and spicy, tobacco tinged, red fruits.

A fabulous, fully mature wine, you find concentration of flavor, intensity in the aromatics and a long, richly textured finish, with silky, round, polished tannins and spicy, tobacco tinged, red fruits.

6,098 Views   Tasted
Recorked by the chateau, the wine is more interesting on the nose than the palate. There is a lack of density I often find in other bottles. The fruit is fine, but the finish is short. I have had much better bottles. I am not sure the performance of this bottle was due to provenance or because it was recorked.

Recorked by the chateau, the wine is more interesting on the nose than the palate. There is a lack of density I often find in other bottles. The fruit is fine, but the finish is short. I have had much better bottles. I am not sure the performance of this bottle was due to provenance or because it was recorked.

5,487 Views   Tasted
What a beauty from start to finish with its cedar chest, tobacco, earth and cassis filled nose. Concentrated, fresh, lively and displaying the patina of age in its texture, the fruit was still vibrant and the tannins were soft and round. This is really showing great today. it could get better. But there is no reason to wait. The bottle was popped and poured.

What a beauty from start to finish with its cedar chest, tobacco, earth and cassis filled nose. Concentrated, fresh, lively and displaying the patina of age in its texture, the fruit was still vibrant and the tannins were soft and round. This is really showing great today. it could get better. But there is no reason to wait. The bottle was popped and poured.

6,027 Views   Tasted
This beauty has been remarkably consistent. I do not know if my bottles have been great, or if I've just been lucky, but either way, I'm taking it. The wine is concentrated, full bodied and deep. There is energy in the ripe cassis, fresh berries, smoke, tobacco and earthy truffle character. The finish lingers and builds in flavor, freshness and intensity. This is probably drinking in the sweet spot today. A splash decanting is all you need for this wine to show its best.

This beauty has been remarkably consistent. I do not know if my bottles have been great, or if I've just been lucky, but either way, I'm taking it. The wine is concentrated, full bodied and deep. There is energy in the ripe cassis, fresh berries, smoke, tobacco and earthy truffle character. The finish lingers and builds in flavor, freshness and intensity. This is probably drinking in the sweet spot today. A splash decanting is all you need for this wine to show its best.

6,234 Views   Tasted
Regardless of how many times I taste this wine, I’m always happy to taste it again. Charming, supple, concentrated and balanced, the fruit is ripe, soft and polished, just like the tannins. There is no reason to wait any longer if you have a bottle.

Regardless of how many times I taste this wine, I’m always happy to taste it again. Charming, supple, concentrated and balanced, the fruit is ripe, soft and polished, just like the tannins. There is no reason to wait any longer if you have a bottle.

6,699 Views   Tasted
I love this wine! Tasted three times this year, each bottle has been stunning. What's not to like? It's sensuous, polished, plush and fresh, with complex aromas, silky, rich textures and a long, pure finish. Drink it now, or age it for more secondary character.

I love this wine! Tasted three times this year, each bottle has been stunning. What's not to like? It's sensuous, polished, plush and fresh, with complex aromas, silky, rich textures and a long, pure finish. Drink it now, or age it for more secondary character.

8,099 Views   Tasted
What a beauty! This wine offers everything that is great about aged Bordeaux. A complex perfume packed with earth, truffle, tobacco, cherries, spice and cassis. Concentration of flavor, soft, textures and a long, fresh, fruit filled finish. Drink this now, or wait a decade.

What a beauty! This wine offers everything that is great about aged Bordeaux. A complex perfume packed with earth, truffle, tobacco, cherries, spice and cassis. Concentration of flavor, soft, textures and a long, fresh, fruit filled finish. Drink this now, or wait a decade.

7,597 Views   Tasted
Over the past 3-4 years, 1982 Ducru Beaucaillou took a huge step up in quality. It's more interesting, complex and rich. Everything has come together and fallen into place with its tobacco leaf, cigar box, earth, coffee bean, cedar chest and black cherry liqueur filled personality. Powerful, but silky, soft and delicious, drink it now, or age it for 10-20 or more years. This is the best vintage of Ducru Beaucaillou after 1961, all the until the 2005.

Over the past 3-4 years, 1982 Ducru Beaucaillou took a huge step up in quality. It's more interesting, complex and rich. Everything has come together and fallen into place with its tobacco leaf, cigar box, earth, coffee bean, cedar chest and black cherry liqueur filled personality. Powerful, but silky, soft and delicious, drink it now, or age it for 10-20 or more years. This is the best vintage of Ducru Beaucaillou after 1961, all the until the 2005.

7,488 Views   Tasted
1982 Ducru Beaucaillou is packed with explosive, spicy aromatics, cedar wood, truffle and wet earth. Intense, rich and powerful, the wine offers soft, round textures and a silky, cassis and spice box finish.

1982 Ducru Beaucaillou is packed with explosive, spicy aromatics, cedar wood, truffle and wet earth. Intense, rich and powerful, the wine offers soft, round textures and a silky, cassis and spice box finish.

8,796 Views   Tasted
This looked like a perfect bottle. High fill, spinning capsule and the wine had great, deep color. But with all that, and a nose of smoke, truffle, blackberry, cedar wood, caramel, cassis and earth, this bottle did not open as well as expected. There was a tart character and more of a rustic, masculine quality to the wine that is not typical, for this normally, charming Bordeaux wine. Even with a few hours in the glass, the wine never developed well. I've tasted better bottles.

This looked like a perfect bottle. High fill, spinning capsule and the wine had great, deep color. But with all that, and a nose of smoke, truffle, blackberry, cedar wood, caramel, cassis and earth, this bottle did not open as well as expected. There was a tart character and more of a rustic, masculine quality to the wine that is not typical, for this normally, charming Bordeaux wine. Even with a few hours in the glass, the wine never developed well. I've tasted better bottles.

11,274 Views   Tasted
Light ruby in color, with tobacco, earth, cedar wood, lead pencil, earth and black cherry scents. Full bodied, soft textured and silky, this bottle is fully mature. The wine ends with a refined, spicy, cherry finish. This bottle was better in texture, but less interesting on the nose than other bottles I've had. That old saying is proven true once again. After 20 years, there is no such thing as great wines. There are only great bottles.

Light ruby in color, with tobacco, earth, cedar wood, lead pencil, earth and black cherry scents. Full bodied, soft textured and silky, this bottle is fully mature. The wine ends with a refined, spicy, cherry finish. This bottle was better in texture, but less interesting on the nose than other bottles I've had. That old saying is proven true once again. After 20 years, there is no such thing as great wines. There are only great bottles.

12,742 Views   Tasted
At close to 30 years of age, this remarkable St. Julien is still young, vibrant and fresh! Tobacco, cedar chest, truffles, cassis, Asian spice and damp forest floor scents exude from the glass. Powerful, full bodied and packed with juicy, ripe, blackberries, the wine fills your mouth with sweet, spicy, ripe, black and red fruits. This is a great Bordeaux drinking experience and it's only going to get better over the 10-20 more years, provided the wine is well stored.

At close to 30 years of age, this remarkable St. Julien is still young, vibrant and fresh! Tobacco, cedar chest, truffles, cassis, Asian spice and damp forest floor scents exude from the glass. Powerful, full bodied and packed with juicy, ripe, blackberries, the wine fills your mouth with sweet, spicy, ripe, black and red fruits. This is a great Bordeaux drinking experience and it's only going to get better over the 10-20 more years, provided the wine is well stored.

12,370 Views   Tasted
Dark, purple, ruby with light edges. The nose sports herbs, cassis and earthy truffle scents. The wine is elegant on the palate with a beautiful finish.

Dark, purple, ruby with light edges. The nose sports herbs, cassis and earthy truffle scents. The wine is elegant on the palate with a beautiful finish.

6,634 Views   Tasted
Vanilla, eucalyptus, licorice, and black currants jumped from the glass after 10 minutes. This full bodied wine delivers an elegant finish that coats your mouth with ripe, black fruit. No hurry to drink this as it has a long future ahead.

Vanilla, eucalyptus, licorice, and black currants jumped from the glass after 10 minutes. This full bodied wine delivers an elegant finish that coats your mouth with ripe, black fruit. No hurry to drink this as it has a long future ahead.

6,426 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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