Tasting Notes
Robert Parker 94
This wine is of first-growth quality, not only from an intellectual perspective, but in its hedonistic characteristics. More open-knit and accessible than the extraordinary 1996, Ducru’s 1995 exhibits a saturated ruby/purple color, followed by a knock-out nose of blueberry and black raspberry/cassis fruit intertwined with minerals, flowers, and subtle toasty new oak. Like its younger sibling, the wine possesses a sweet, rich mid-palate (from extract and ripeness, not sugar), layers of flavor, good delineation and grip, but generally unobtrusive tannin and acidity. It is a classic, compelling example of Ducru-Beaucaillou that should not be missed. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025. It should be obvious to readers of my preliminary reports on both the 1995 and 1996 vintages that the family of Jean-Eugene Borie produced some of the greatest wines ever made at their respective chateaux – Ducru-Beaucaillou, Grand-Puy-Lacoste, and Haut-Batailley – in both 1995 and 1996. That has been confirmed once again in the bottled 1995s, and in the evolution of the powerhouse 1996s.
Anticipated maturity: 2003-2025
JancisRobinson.com 16.0
Berries – a bit atypical – on the nose. Sweet and round. Flattering and well balanced. Pretty dry on the finish. This is pretty brutal like wine 8 without the lift. No sense of place but a dramatic wine.
Anticipated maturity: 2008-2018
