2010 Ducru Beaucaillou

Plums, currants, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and violet notes all emerge from the 2010 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, a rockingly concentrated, powerful wine from this incredible château that has ripe tannins, a deep, unctuous mid-palate, integrated oak, and a finish that won’t quit. I continue to favor the 2009 over the 2010 from this address, but both are absolutely magical, legendary Saint-Julien that I wish every reader could taste. While the 2010 unquestionably offers pleasure today, it’s probably 4-6 years away from its true prime drinking window, and it will still offer pleasure in 75-100 years. Drink 2029-2100.

'Spring was dry but cooler temperatures in March led to a later than usual budbreak and flowering. After rain in mid June, the summer was dry, with plenty of sunshine, but was not particularly hot. September and October were clear and sunny, with a few interspersed days of rain that reinvigorated the vines for the final ripening phase; these conditions gave highly concentrated fruits with perfectly ripened skins and exquisite freshness.' Harvest: 29 September – 14 October. 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot.  18 months in new French oak. Very deeply coloured with dark core. Gorgeous nose. Refined and still fresh dark cassis fruit. Very pure. Sumptuous fruit in a powerful framework. Deep, firm, chewy, intense and muscular. Long finish. Power and depth, all in harmony for a long future. You could open it now but it has even more to come. (JH)

This is intense, concentrated, spirals through the palate, grabbing you with satin-textured blackberry and bilberry fruits, showing depth and character. Plentiful tannins shot through with luscious juice from beginning to end, this stretches out, building flavours an inch at a time, confident and at the top of its game. Such well-judged appellation, estate and vintage signature, ticking all boxes of that particular holy trinity. Harvest September 29 to October 14. 100% new oak. The last vintage with Jacques Boissenot working alongside his son Eric, Virginie Sallette technical director.