WTN: St Pierre & Ducru

St Pierre is an old favourite, an estate which has been under the radar for a long time, although that seems to be changing in recent vintages (probably as other wines from the same commune continue to become less and less affordable).

Chateau Saint-Pierre (St Julien) 2004: This wine carries the aromas of sweet liquorice and pencil graphite over sweet fruit. It seems surprisingly open and approachable, with the suggestion of early maturity on the nose. The palate has a soft and welcoming flesh, with a nice smoky grip beneath. A lovely, meaty, slightly earthy character, spiced with a hint of green peppercorn. Overall a good wine, but in a rather awkward phase right now, so difficult to judge. I suspect it will come good given another five years or so as all the raw materials are here. 16-17+?/20

And one of those increasingly unaffordable wines is Ducru of course (along with the Léovilles). The 1995 was a great vintage for the estate, a major success after a string of problematic bottles through the 1980s. It was also Wine Spectator's Wine of the Year.

Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou (St Julien) 1995: Early maturity with this wine, which was a turnaround vintage for the estate. Some emerging maturity in terms of aroma, with iron and tea leaves on the nose, backed up by intense, concentrated, tightly bound fruit. Firm substance on the palate, very tight still, supple but weighty and clearly, despite the positive notes on the nose, this is a wine that needs yet more time. Firm texture, meaty and spicy fruit, giving glimpses of what the future holds, but all still very tightly coiled up at present. Great potential here. 18+/20

[David M. Bueker]

Alas for the price of Ducru. I only acquired my bottles through trade. I am no longer willing to afford the price the wine commands at retail.

Same here David - looking back I have some 1998 and 2002, nothing more recent (I actually bought the 1998 more recently). Looking at the prices I paid it seems now that I should have bought more!

Had some of the '95 Ducru Beaucaillou relatively recently (from a couple of bottles at the Commanderie du Bontemps Ban du Millésime dinner at Bdx city on the 21st March). Similar to yours, my notes show that I found them a bit tight yet:

1995 Château Ducru Beaucaillou - Regular drinking buddies know I am not taken by the wines of this highly-acclaimed producer except for a wonderful bottle of the '78 that the Stockbroker generously shared before. This seemed quite closed and reticent. Oh, you'll get the slight asphalt/tar infused blackcurrant, faint herbs, bit of violets and cedar but, as a whole, it just isn't giving much at all. More time in bottle? More aeration? I really don't know.