2000 - Ducru-Beaucaillou, Saint-Julien

A blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot, the 2000 Ducru-Beaucaillou is deep garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It swans out of the glass with gregarious, mature notes of cigar box, new leather, potpourri, and dried bay leaves, leading to a core of prunes, dried cherries, and fragrant soil, plus a touch of iron ore. The medium-bodied palate has compelling freshness and soft, silt-like tannins supporting the evolved black fruit and mineral layers, finishing long and graceful.

The 2000 Ducru-Beaucaillou is very deep in colour. Surprisingly, the nose is very backward in this example with quite intense black cherries, boysenberry, prune and fig aromas, gaining clarity and vigour with aeration (serious decanting is advised for this millennial.) The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannins. Stocky, but not muscular, this has a firm backbone, grainy tannins, liquorice-tinged black fruit with a grippy, almost menthol finish. I adored this wine a decade ago, but ten years on, has it really evolved as well as other vintages? Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château.