Ducru-Beaucaillou St-Julien 1982

97 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 1982 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou remains one of the very finest wines of the vintage on the Left Bank and it is just now starting to blossom properly and hit on all cylinders. The bouquet is pure and displays First Growth depth and complexity, soaring from the glass in a fine constellation of sweet cassis and dark berries, a very complex base of gravelly soil tones, Cuban cigar wrapper, gentle smokiness and a deftly turned base of smoky new oak. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and sappy at the core, with stellar focus and balance, still a touch of ripe tannin perking up the backend and a very, very long, refined and complex finish. This is a great, great vintage of Ducru that may one day rival the near perfection of the 1961. 2018-2075. (Jan/Feb 2020)"

96 points Robert Parker: "...one of the all-time great Ducrus, probably matched or eclipsed by several recent vintages (i.e., 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2008). The 1982 is still 5-8 years away from full maturity, but it exhibits a dense ruby/plum/garnet color to the rim as well as a sweet perfume of forest floor, spice box, cedar, and copious quantities of black fruits. Medium to full-bodied and beautifully pure with sweet tannins, this wine has aged more slowly than I initially expected. It is the finest Ducru Beaucaillou produced after the 1961 and before the 2003. (Jun 2009)"

18.5/20 points Clive Coates (The Wines of Bordeaux): "Full colour. Little sign of maturity. Classy and fruity. Very good grip. Rich, fat and composed. Very lovely fruit. Long, harmonious and classy. Very fine. Drink soon. (2004)"

4 stars, Michael Broadbent's Pocket Vintage Wine Companion: "Classic cedar cigar box nose that opened up deliciously; touch of liquorice; rich but tannic. Last tasted Sept 2003."