Château Ducru Beaucaillou, 2eme Cru Classé, St Julien, 2009

Bruno Borie is a man who can seemingly do no wrong. A wonderful marketeer and wine maker, his wines have regularly featured in our charts over the past decade. This is hardly surprising given the fabulous terroir and the fastidious attention to detail one finds at Ducru. 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, the Grand vin will spend 18 months in 90% new French oak barrels. The 2009 was by no means a easy wine to taste; it is vast, uncompromising, take no prisoners style of wine , which didn't do it for everyone, but what is undeniable is that this is mighty impressive, big, long-term, structured and probably something that Parker will love... We found a big, brooding nose of truffle, graphite, liqueur cherries, cloves and high tones floral notes. Some thought it glorious, some thought it impenetrable. This is massively concentrated, powerful and plush. There are layers of sensual fruit, griottes, dark berries and plenty of lift on the mid palate. Although monstrously big, it has a lithe quality and a curvatious quality and a sweetness that reminds us of the `82, but this has better, more vivid acidity.