1990 Ducru Beaucaillou
By Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou
1990 Ducru Beaucaillou from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou, St-Julien, Bordeaux
Harking back to the storied terroirs of Bordeaux, the 1990 Ducru Beaucaillou from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou presents itself as a captivator in every sense. This vintage, resplendent in the legacy of St-Julien, offers connoisseurs a glimpse into an exceedingly gracious year marked by an equilibrium of climatic conditions conducive to producing Bordeaux wines of particularly commendable calibre.
An Exemplar of St-Julien Finesse
The season's benevolence is encapsulated within this noble blend, a tapestry of ripe berries and a structural depth that can only be born from vines basking in generous sunlight and rooted in gravelly soils. Fine wine investors will find great interest in entwining their portfolios with such distinguishing vintages. Particularly, the 1990 Ducru Beaucaillou has stood the test of time gracefully, maturing into a remarkable composition with hints of truffle and leather complementing its substantial fruit core.
Vintage Character: A Union of Time and Terroir
It is not merely the typicity of Ducru Beaucaillou that enchants, but the idiosyncrasies of 1990 that elevate this offering. Tasked with outshining its forebears, it represents one of the most harmonious expressions where elegance meets potency. The palate is treated to layers of complexity, with lingering notes of cassis and smoky cedar – proverbial music for those attuned to the appellation's majestic rhythm.
The potential for investment here is underscored by the vintage's reception among aficionados. With well-structured tannins underpinning its robust profile, this wine conveys a lasting finish that seals its statuesque presence amongst Bordeaux’s elite.
Summation: A Wine Worthy of Attention
The essence captured in the 1990 Ducru Beaucaillou from Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou transcends mere enjoyment to become a beacon for fine wine collectors and investors alike. The magnificent equilibrium manifested in its ageing potential and impeccable structure makes a compelling case for addition to any discerning investor's portfolio. Here lies more than wine; it's a legacy cradled in a bottle – an exceptional chapter from Bordeaux’s rich tapestry ready for appreciation.
Current market price
$2,640.00
12x75cl
Highest score
91
POP score
144.55
Scores and tasting notes
Harvest took place this year from 23rd September to 8th October. The wine was aged for around 12 months in two-thirds new oak. Medium brick-brown in color, the 1990 Ducru-Beaucaillou is quite evolved, offering notions of incense, tree bark, tilled soil and tobacco with nuances of preserved plums, kirsch, tapenade and leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate still possesses a good amount of earth-laced savory fruit with a bit of chew to the texture and a stewed tea finish. Readers should note that this vintage fell within a notoriously patchy period at Ducru, where the cellar is likely to have fallen victim to TCA or a TCA-like taint, and it appears some bottles were impacted from 1986 to 1994. By 1995, the chateau had a completely new vat room/cellar and the problem ceased. Therefore, there could be some bottle variation to be had with this vintage. This bottle, however, was pristine, tasted at the chateau.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 13 August 2020
Always a bit of Russian Roulette when it comes to Ducru born at a time when one of their storage houses was infected. I do not think this bottle was compromised but neither it is a patch on what I would expect. Tobacco, cedar and green leaves on the nose, well defined and showing a modicum of freshness. The palate is simple, lacking some definition with an attenuated finish. Fails to launch. Drink now. Tasted August 2008.
Neal Martin - Wine Journal Jan 2009