Made from 77% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot, the 2004 Ducru-Beaucaillou is deep garnet in color with a touch of brick. It offers up evolved scents of tobacco leaf, cast-iron pan, Indian spices, and dried figs, leading to a core of prunes and warm cassis with an underlying waft of dried herbs. The medium-bodied palate has a lively backbone and chewy tannins supporting the mature black fruit and herbal sparks, finishing savory. Lisa Perrotti-Brown Sept 2023 - The Wine Independent

Against my expectations, this is not quite as appealing as the 2003 to drink right now, a little more foursquare although extremely classic with plenty of St Julien finesse. The tannins are tight and firm, and this still feels extremely young - you certainly see the majestic ageing ability of Ducru in both the 2003 and 2004. The fruit character is dark, rich and powerful, with a menthol edge growing bright through the palate along with a ton of liquorice root. Extremely good, but lacks the thrill of the 2003. Drinking Window: 2019 - 2040
Tasted by: Jane Anson (at Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, 21 Sep 2019)
Part of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou vertical tasting: 1953-2018

One can’t say enough about the efforts Bruno Borie is pouring into this wonderful estate that I have often called the “Lafite Rothschild of St.-Julien.” An undeniable success, the 2004 Ducru boasts sweet aromas of creme de cassis, spring flowers, pain grille, licorice, and road tar. This pure, medium-bodied wine possesses moderately high tannin, superb concentration, good sweetness, and low acidity. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25 years. Drink: 2009 - 2034.

Robert Parker (Wine Advocate #171, Jun 2007)

The 2004 Ducru-Beaucaillou is a vintage that I have not tasted for a few years. Now at 17-years of age, it has a delineated, tertiary, tobacco-scented nose where secondary scents are playing the major roles. Cigar humidor, autumn leaves and stewed black tea. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, saline and marine-influence, moderate weight, perhaps missing the complexity that Ducru-Beaucaillou delivers in great vintages, so the finish is a bit conservative and correct. If you like classic Saint-Julien, the 2004 will appeal to you and it should give another 15 years of drinking pleasure. Tasted at the Ducru Beaucaillou vertical at the château. July 2022

Flowers, tea, strawberry, spice, peppery herbs, and cranberry shine through here with a cool touch of mint in the nose and on the palate. The finish is chalky, fresh, and spicy, with more of that minty freshness in the finish. Drink from 2023-2032. Tasted Sept 2023

The second vintage for proprietor Bruno Borie, the 2004 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is medium-bodied and concentrated, with a relatively foursquare style (which is the vintage) as well as textbook notes of mature black fruits, smoked tobacco, loamy earth, and lead pencil. Its tannins are ripe, it's nicely balanced, and it has a great finish. I'd call it mature today, yet it clearly has another 10-15 years of prime drinking. This is one for the classic, old school Bordeaux lovers out there. Oct 2023

This Ducru is such a harmonious wine, with cedar, berry and truffle character. It’s full-bodied with gorgeous tannins and a pretty finish. Drink now. June 2013

Deep ruby-red. Reticent nose hints at violet, menthol and spicy oak. Sweet and lush on entry, then broad and classically dry in the middle, with slightly edgy acidity currently dominating the wine's precise berry and licorice flavors. Finishes with serious, broad tannins that reach the incisors. This is long but the 2006 is longer. May 2007

Quality 784 | Brand 993 | Economics 960 |
Quality: Above the average quality score of its peer group for the 2004 vintage, 705 Brand: Strong restaurant presence, featuring on 44 of the world's top wine lists, including Le Calandre Economics: More traded at auction than its peers, its top 5 vintages having seen 3,041 75cl equivalent bottles traded in the past year Production:

- www.wine-lister.com June 2017