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Cabernet Sauvignon
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Bordeaux, Bordeaux Region, France
Xavier Borie consistently makes one of the finest of all Pauillacs here. Now that he has left Ducru Beaucaillou to the care of his brother, he has more time to devote to this fine property which, in top vintages such as 1982, 1990, 1996 and 2000, has regularly produced quite magnificent wines. Frequently a match for Lynch Bages and Pontet Canet and usually cheaper en primeur. An extremely reliable property that the canny buyer should consider every year. This lovely nose, offers clean, focused dark fruits with hints of cassis, text-book Pauillac minerality and sweet French oak; generous and full, yet refined. The palate is smooth and easy-going, with lovely purity to the ripe, dark, mineral fruit. Clean acidity and long, refined tannins seanlessly support the fruit with great balance. Not a blockbuster, this is a classic, serious Pauillac of lovely finesse. ONE TO FOLLOW.Farr Vintners
'The 2006 exhibits a deep purple color as well as classic aromas of cassis and blueberries, ripe tannin, medium body, a distinctive minerality, and a long finish. It recalls the brilliant 1995 and 1996 made here. Fashioned from yields of 47 hectoliters per hectare, the final blend is 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.90-92"Robert Parker, Wine Advocate
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Henschke, The Barrosa, Australia
Elsewhere $165. The 2005 Cyril Henschke Cabernet Sauvignon contains 13% Merlot. It was sourced from the namesake vineyard with vines ranging in age from 23-49 years. It was aged for 21 months in 73% new French oak. A saturated purple color, the aromatics reveal lots of spice, cigar box, black currants and blackberry. Round, ripe, and extracted on the palate, this lush, flavorful Cabernet will continue to unwind for several more years and offers a drinking window extending from 2013 to 2025. 95/100 Robert Parker.
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Vasse Felix, Western Australia, Australia
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La Fiorita, Tuscany, Italy
One of the great reds of the area- a blend of Cabernet and Sangivese.
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Cape Mentelle, Western Australia, Australia
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Mitolo, The Barrosa, Australia
92/100 from Parker- "The 2006 includes 20% dried grapes in the style of Amarone. Purple-coloured it has a fragrant bouquet of black fruits, tar and violets. This leads to a smooth textured, layered, dense wine with enough structure to evolve for 4-6 years. It has a long, pure finish and can be enjoyed over the next 15-20 years. It is a superb value in Cabernet."
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Bordeaux, Bordeaux Region, France
PRICE IS THE ALL UP FINAL LANDED COST INCLUSIVE OF GST"Ducru is on top form these days. Bruno Borie has made some very serious wines at Ducru in recent vintages with many vats previously destined for the grand vin now being used for the second label. From 2003 onwards production of the first wine has been reduced from 15,000-20,000 cs to 9,000-11,000 cs. There is now more second wine - La Croix de Beaucaillou than there is Grand Vin. Bruno's policy is now to only select fruit from the heart of the Ducru vineyard, overlooking the estuary for the Grand Vin. Ducru is clearly back where it belongs at the top of the super-second league. Classically structured, Ducru 2009 is made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon with 15% Merlot. 90% new oak. 45 hl/ha. This is turbo-charged and super-concentrated. Classic black cassis with a firm structure. Lots of black fruit on the palate with good balancing tannins. A blockbuster but not forced. Complex, balanced and long. Classy, serious and built for the long term.
Score: 18 Farr Vintners
Can the 2009 Ducru Beaucaillou be better than the brilliant 2000 and extraordinary 2003 and 2005? Purchasers will have to decide for themselves, but this compelling effort is one of the all-time great Ducru Beaucaillous. It is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot that achieved 13.5% natural alcohol, and, remarkably, despite the fact that 90% new oak was utilized, not a hint of wood can be found in either the aromatics or flavors. This inky/purple-hued, unctuously textured 2009 reveals layers and layers of blue, red, and black fruits, and hints of licorice and spice box. Despite its substantial, massive size, it retains an elegant style, but will need 3-5 years of cellaring. It should last for 40+ years. (Tasted once.) Drink 2013-2053.
Score: 96-98+ Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (188)
Tasted at the château. A blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, aged in 90% new oak and 10% one-year old for 12 months, cropped at around 42hl/ha coming in with 13.49% alcohol, this has a very deep colour, very lucid. The nose is well defined, very pure, with blackberry, a touch of iodine, something reminiscent of the sea here, perhaps with a touch of seaweed? The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, the new oak very well integrated, quite feminine and sensual, silky towards the long finish. This will need longer to allow the oak to melt into the fabric of the wine but it will be worth the wait. As Bruno Borie said: imagine Beyonce. Tasted March 2010.
Score: 93-95 Neal Martin, eRobertParker.com
This has an impressive powerful and hearty structure, with seductive floral, currant and licorice aromas and flavors, showing powerful tannins at the end. This sneaks up on you at the end. Structured and very, very powerful. The blockbuster tannins are sweet and fruit-coated. This is a classic, powerful style of Ducru. May be best yet. Wow.
Score: 96-99 James Suckling, WineSpectator.com
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Bordeaux, Bordeaux Region, France
"A blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2006 Calon Segur is an elegant, classic effort that represents about 60% of their total production. Deep ruby, with forest floor, cassis, black cherry, and soil undertones in both the aromas and flavors, this is a medium to full-bodied wine. A success for the vintage, it exhibits fine density, moderately high but sweet tannins, and alluring texture, and fine purity. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2035"91/100 parker
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Bordeaux, Bordeaux Region, France
"A very strong effort from Lagrange in 2006, this estate's tendency for including a nearly overwhelming oak component in its wines has been tamed in this cuvee, resulting in a better-balanced, potentially complex offering. A deep opaque purple color is followed by aromas of espresso roast, subtle pain grille, black currants, and cigar box. Full-bodied and surprisingly powerful for a 2006, with outstanding purity, texture, and depth, patience will be required for this beauty. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2027."91 Parker
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Mitolo, The Barrosa, Australia
"The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Serpico ( 100% McLaren Vale fruit ) was treated like Amarone with the grapes picked relatively underripe and green, then dried for seven weeks before they were fermented. The result is a distinctive, full bodied Cabernet with no pruney or raisiny characteristics whatsoever. Its fresh acidity and lively backbone support a wine of enormous richness and intensity, offering up classic creme de cassis notes intermixed with white chocolate, damp forest, cedar, and toasty oak. Full bodied, opulent, powerful, and totally dry, with a sweet, rich mid-section, it should age well for 10-15 years." 94/100 Robert Parker
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