critic reviews
The 2023 Le Petit Ducru is deep garnet-purple in color. It springs from the glass with vibrant notes of fresh plums, boysenberries, and black raspberries leading to hints of menthol, cinnamon stick, and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate is soft textured, delivering refreshingly crunchy black fruits with great tension and a red berry lift on the finish. The blend is 72% Merlot, 24% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Petit Verdot. This has morphed into a third wine of Ducru Beaucaillou, made from younger vines and declassified fruit.
Plush and fragrant opening to Le Petit Ducru in this vintage, the deep black pepper, capsicum and turmeric spice that is a signature of the vintage, with gorgeous fresh slate and graphite set against cassis fruits. 30% new oak for ageing.
The 2023 Le Petit Ducru de Ducru Beaucaillou has a seductive bouquet with pure red fruit, incense and light cedar scents, just a slight minty element emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with crunchy black fruit and fine structure. There’s a dash of black pepper and more fruit concentration on the finish than the Madame de Beaucaillou. Very promising.