($120-$170) Bright dark ruby. Knockout perfumed nose of great purity: cassis, violet, minerals and bitter chocolate. A penetrating wine of outstanding vinosity and verve; offers great tensile strength. Youthfully tight, classic claret whose extremely long finish features very fine tannins. I'm not convinced Ducru has made a wine in recent vintages to equal its '95 and '96 releases.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

Not decanted. Very dark crimson with a brownish streak. Focussed and savoury and impressive. Tight and dry on the finish in an impressive, appetising way. Good! A bit more dramatic. Lovely smoothness. Very fine and balanced and very St-Julien. First vintage in the new winery made by François Xavier Borie who was then very motivated. 'Ducru revival’ year according to Bruno Borie who is now in charge.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

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.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio

Subtle yet aromatic character of Indian spices, currants and dried cherries. Full-bodied, with super well-integrated tannins and a long, caressing finish. Wonderful texture. Classy and structured. Long. This was wine of the year in 1998; well deserved.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective. 18,000 cases made.

Professional content appears courtesy of Vinfolio