1999 Ducru Beaucaillou
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Tasting notes
The 1999 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a vintage that I have found perplexing in the past, and the last time I was unable to give a score. Returning again, I find the nose a little diluted with light black fruit, a touch of brine and sea salt, but oddly it reminds me of the 2013. The palate is medium-bodied with light tannins, fine acidity, fresh red fruit. But overall, it is missing complexity and the personality that I seek in a fine Ducru-Beaucaillou. Tread cautiously with this 1999...or seek out the superior preceding vintage. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
73% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot. 18 months in French oak (66% new). Rainy vintage meant strict selection of only 60% of the crop was needed. Transparent dark garnet. Very firm, classic nose – no obvious sweetness. Cassis and sleek – rather winning and silky. Very fine traditional St-Julien character with great balance. Classic dry, appetising finish and just a very light kick of tannin on the end. A surprising success – my favourite Ducru in this selection too – from a distinctly uncelebrated vintage! (JR)
Medium brick colored, the 1999 Ducru-Beaucaillou needs a little swirling to release the tightly coiled notions of dried cherries, fruitcake and red currant jelly with emerging hints of balsamic, mincemeat pie, menthol, powdered chocolate and star anise. The medium to full-bodied palate is wonderfully expressive with seamless freshness lightly lifting a great core of youthful red and black fruits plus fine-grained tannins to support, finishing with lingering savory and spice layers. This well-structured spice-bomb still has a lot of years left!
The 1999 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a vintage that I have not tasted since 2009, when I was smitten by its Burgundian texture and fleshy finish. Ten years on, this bottle is disappointing. The sweet, almost prune-like nose caught me completely by surprise. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin and low acidity. This is a “big-boned” Ducru-Beaucaillou with a strong licorice note toward the finish. I do not find this particularly enjoyable, and on this occasion, it is surpassed by both the 1989 and 2009 Ducru-Beaucaillou. I will seek to revisit this. Tasted from an ex- château bottle at the estate.
About the producer
Second Growth estate Ch. Ducru-Beaucaillou in Saint-Julien is one of the Super Seconds, an elite group of properties producing wines that regularly compete with the finest in the Médoc.