Subtle aromas of currants, blueberries and minerals. Full body with super-integrated tannins and a fine, fine finish. I love the texture to this wine, and it’s just starting to show you the true quality it has. Start drinking. One of the top wines of this vintage.

This was a vintage that took time to shake off its serious side, and the tannins remain pretty sombre, but set against the classicism of the cassis and blueberry fruits is plenty of slate, graphite, cocoa, pepper, turmeric and black chocolate that adds richness and power. Softening to show the first hints of tertiary, with classic St Julien character, lovely fresh acidities. A subdued vintage that has grown into its balance. The first year with Virginie Sallette as winemaker, promoted to technical director in 2008. Harvest September 18 to October 7.

The 2006 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is up-front and even a little evolved, with a charming, medium-bodied style as well as notes of red and black fruits, dried flowers, spice, and foresty, earthy nuances. With medium-bodied richness, sweet tannins, and a layered mouthfeel, this is clearly in its prime drinking window. I don't see any upside here, but this has lots of character, brings rock-solid mid-palate depth, and displays a more seamless, elegant style compared to the 2004.

The 2006 vintage in Bordeaux will ever have to live in the long shadow of the superb 2005s, but I like this vintage very much and feel it has a long and promising future ahead of it. The 2006 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a superb example of just how good this year is on the Gironde, as it offers up a youthful and beautifully precise bouquet of sweet dark berries, cassis, cigar smoke, that signature base of gravel, a touch of tobacco leaf and a suave foundation of nutty new oak. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and impeccably balanced, with a superb core of black fruit, lovely soil signature and a long, ripely tannic and focused finish that will be superbly complex in due course. A first rate vintage at Ducru.

This classic, backward, tannic St.-Julien is made in the style of the 1996 and 1986. The 2006 Ducru Beaucaillou possesses a dense purple color along with a sweet perfume of graphite, black raspberries, cassis, licorice, and subtle toasty oak. Despite their prominent place in the wine’s structure, the sweetness of the tannins and the full-bodied, muscular style suggest exceptional patience will be required. This is a big, substantial, meaty, masculine wine built for considerable longevity. - RP

he 2006 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Merlot. Deep garnet in color with a touch of brick, it reveals notes of dried cranberries, preserved plums, and redcurrant jelly with hints of dried sage, unsmoked cigars, and sweaty leather plus a hint of graphite. The medium-bodied palate is refreshing and minerally, with chewy tannins and a minerally finish.

This is that rare Bordeaux Cabernet that comes close in style to a Napa Cabernet. The character comes from the mint aromas and medicinal edge, formed from new wood aging. At this stage in its development, the wine is powerful, but closed and tight. However, it is possible to taste the ripe perfumes and the black cherry juice flavors that come through the vanilla. — Roger Voss

An approachable 2006, Ducru-Beaucaillou offers loads of dark fruits, cassis, tar and a jammy yet silky taste with soft tannins. Contrary to many other wines from this classic Bordeaux vintage that produced strong tannic wines like 1996 and 1986 it is coming around nicely now and should be a pleasure for many years on this level.

The 2006 Ducru-Beaucaillou, matured in 90% new oak, has quite a captivating, very attractive bouquet, a mélange of red and black fruit, peony, crushed rocks and blood orange - one of my favourite aromatics on the Left Bank in this growing season. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black fruit, fine acidity, quite linear and "solid". There is a lot of concentration towards the finish, a dab of spice that leaves the tongue tingling. Maybe it could benefit from more nuance and personality on the finish, but it is certainly a very fine Saint-Julien for the vintage. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. - Neal Martin

Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (75% of the blend), the 2006 Ducru nevertheless manages a supple, voluptuous texture. The aromas are somewhat restrained and are touched by a hint of eucalyptus and bell pepper, but there is underlying power here and enough substance to age. The Borie team waited until the rain was nearly finished to start the harvest, and the ripeness of the fruit and low yields (four to eight bunches per vine) doubtless contributed to this decadent feel. (Drink between 2025-2045)