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Neal Martin, June 2021, Score: 95
The 1995 Ducru-Beaucaillou, matured in two-thirds new oak, has a very refined bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, rose petal and cedar aromas, very focused and sophisticated. The palate is well balanced with sour red cherries, balsamic and cedar notes, vibrant and full of energy, though you might well argue it doesn’t quite have the panache and complexity of ensuing vintages on the finish. But it is certainly ageing well and is drinking perfectly now. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. 2021-2040
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Robert Parker, April 1996, Score: 90-92
The 1995 is extremely flattering, largely because of its exceptionally low acidity and sweet, jammy black fruit character. It is atypically ripe and fleshy for a Ducru-Beaucaillou, an estate known for its reserved elegance, a la Lafite-Rothschild. This flashy, ostentatiously-styled Ducru should prove to be a hit with not only longtime fans of this impeccably run estate, but also with readers who are unwilling to wait the 8-10 years that top vintages of Ducru normally require to round into form.I should note that while a name had not yet been chosen (the most likely candidate is La Croix Beaucaillou), Ducru-Beaucaillou has begun producing a second wine with the 1994 vintage.All of the wines in this segment were tasted between March 19 and March 28 in Bordeaux. Most of the important wines from both the 1994 and 1995 vintages were tasted three separate times during my ten-day stay in Bordeaux.
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Robert Parker, January 1998, Score: 94
Wow, does this wine have explosive richness and ripeness! Showing even better than it did last spring, the opaque purple color, and the fabulously sweet, jammy nose of black fruits, minerals, and flowers is followed by an atypically fat, large-scaled, structured, medium to full-bodied Ducru-Beaucaillou that is crammed with fruit. With an inner-core of sweetness, glycerin, and richness, this is a marvelously well-made, compelling example of Ducru-Beaucaillou, the likes of which Ducru's fans have not had since the other-worldly 1982. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025. Last tasted 1/97.
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Robert Parker, February 1997, Score: 92-95
Ducru-Beaucaillou experienced an uncharacteristically shaky period between 1986 and 1990. The winemaking did not suffer, but the inconsistency from bottle to bottle (too many wines exhibited a musty, wet cardboard-like aroma), is history. The construction of a new cellar and replacement of every barrel has guaranteed the conditions necessary to produce trouble free wines. Ducru is on a roll, with fine efforts over recent vintages, including an exceptional 1994, spectacular 1995, and what looks to be an equally profound, super-concentrated 1996. Wow, does this wine have explosive richness and ripeness! Showing even better than it did last spring, the opaque purple color, and the fabulously sweet, jammy nose of black fruits, minerals, and flowers is followed by an atypically fat, large-scaled, structured, medium to full-bodied Ducru-Beaucaillou that is crammed with fruit. With an inner-core of sweetness, glycerin, and richness, this is a marvelously well-made, compelling example of Ducru-Beaucaillou, the likes of which Ducru's fans have not had since the other-worldly 1982. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2025.
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Robert Parker, February 1998, Score: 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.
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Wine Advocate, August 2021, Score: 95
Proprietor Bruno Borie noted this was a somewhat unusual blend this year: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot. After this vintage, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot would no longer be included in the blend. Medium to deep brick in color, the 1995 Ducru-Beaucaillou explodes from the glass with bombastic notes of Indian spices, plum preserves, fruitcake and dried figs with nuances of potpourri, star anise, bouquet garni and espresso. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is chock-full of exotic spices and preserved black fruits, framed by firm, finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing with epic impact and length. Mature and drinking well now, there's still a good 12-15 years of kick left in this thoroughbred.
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Jancis Robinson, July 2014, Score: 17.5
This was served blind alongside Ridge Monte Bello 1995 and seemed much fresher. The palate had real life and energy to it and the finish was dry and lively after some fruit that was pretty rich for bordeaux. Great balance – Bordeaux's calling card?
