2014 Ducru Beaucaillou

Tasted blind. Garnet with black core. Sweet, ripe blackcurrants. Just a touch charry with a contrast of oak sweetness. Firm, deliciously dry and refined in its tannins. Fresh, harmonious and long and, I estimate, a long life ahead. (JH)

Here we see the potential of 2014 in the right hands, and this stands out from its neighbours in northern Médoc, one to note down and look out for. Silky tannins, a ton of cocoa bean, bitter chocolate and espresso, blueberry and cassis fruits, along with turmeric, liqourice and clove spice. Perfectly-pitched acidity that softens into capuccinno creaminess though the mid palate followed by a juicy signoff. Slow build, just delicious. 100% new oak. Eric Boissenot consultant, Virginie Sallette technical director.

The 2014 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is show-stopping stuff, and it goes a long way toward proving how successful the northern parts of the Médoc were in this vintage. Lots of cassis, graphite, smoked tobacco, and damp earth define the bouquet, and it's medium to full-bodied, has a layered, concentrated mouthfeel, building tannins, and incredible length on the finish. It’s going to evolve for 30 to 40 years – and be drinkable for just about all of it!