On the nose the wine is very nuanced, as you should expect from a 30 years old Bordeaux. According to my tasting group, barn, black tea, leather and anise come to mind, with some cassis representing the fruit that is still left in the bouquet. In the mouth it has an earthy flavour profile, with some chocolate, pleasant tannins and a fairly long aftertaste. Continue reading “Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1989”
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1989
On the nose the wine is very nuanced, as you should expect from a 30 years old Bordeaux. According to my tasting group, barn, black tea, leather and anise come to mind, with some cassis representing the fruit that is still left in the bouquet. In the mouth it has an earthy flavour profile, with some chocolate, pleasant tannins and a fairly long aftertaste. Continue reading “Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 1989”
The bouquet doesn’t display much complexity, with lots of smoke, cigar, mocha and liquorice, but not much fruit. In the mouth tobacco overpowers other sensation. Although well integrated, the tannins are still very present and add to the rustic experience. The finish is abrupt. The aftertaste fine, but nothing to indulge in and leaning towards a not overly pleasant mocha taste. 
On the nose blueberries and mulberries, with the addition of a spicy accent. In the mouth smooth and well balanced, with a drying finish and an aftertaste that last long enough. It somehow reminds me of an Aglianico del Vulture I reviewed some time ago.
At the first sight the wine appears pretty dense, signalling a lot of matter. The nose is very rich. Pleasantly spicy, with dark cherries mixed in with some coffee and liquorice. Once in the mouth the wine is less filling than it made you anticipate from the visual and olfactory point of view. On the other hand it is more elegant than expected. A finesse that is confirmed by the discreet aftertaste. 
Albeit the wine is already 14 years old, the nose is still dominated by fruits, with cassis, blueberry and blackberry as the main standouts. In the mouth no sign of age neither, well rounded, elegant and delicate. This wine is very pleasant from the nose to the aftertaste. An outstanding product from a far from perfect vintage. 
On the nose black cherries, liquorice and black pepper, which gives a slightly prickly sensation. In the moth well balanced and consistent with the nose. Fairly long finish, but lighter than expected, with an earthy character.
On the nose at first it smells like blood, which pairs well with the color. After it gets some air, the aroma leans towards strawberries. In the mouth refreshing. Not much to praise or criticise, as it is the case with water. No aftertaste worth mentioning neither: a bit of sour cherry, but not much. 
On the nose some wizened fruit, toffee and a light mocha character. In the mouth balanced, but only moderately structured, with a finish and aftertaste dominated by dark chocolate. The oak is not as overpowering as in other Gran Reserva. Overall, the wine is not very sophisticated, but drinks nicely. 
Although they are very subtle, the milky nuances typical of Rioja wines are the first aroma I detect on the nose. The fruit is a bit lacking, with burnt notes, hints of spices and licorice (another trademark of Tempranillo based wines) coming forward.
On the nose a spicy and earthy character dominates: mushroom, tobacco, nutmeg, mocha and chocolate. From the background, hints of cherries and stewed plums come forward. In the mouth smooth and well balanced, with elegant tannins and a good acidity. The wine is tasty and leaves you with a fairly long aftertaste.