Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 2009 is a Second Growth (Deuxième Grand Cru Classé) from Saint‑Julien, and it has been received as one of the estate’s benchmark modern wines. The blend is consistently reported as 85% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Merlot, reaching 13.5% natural alcohol—an important detail in how many critics explain its depth and scale.

The top reviews are unambiguous. Robert Parker awarded 100 points in *Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate*, calling it an “inky purple, unctuous wine” with “classic aromas of graphite, creme de cassis, blueberries, violets, licorice and Christmas fruitcake,” and predicting it will “last for 40-50 years.” Jeb Dunnuck also gave 100 points, describing “a soaring bouquet of sweet blackcurrants, smoked tobacco, minty herbs, graphite,” and concluding, “This is pure perfection in wine.” Those are the wine’s headline endorsements and place it among the most celebrated 2009s in the Médoc.

High scores just below perfection reinforce the picture. *Decanter* (99) notes a “remarkably fresh and delicate nose” with “spicy and graphite notes,” and an “upright structure” it links to “a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant wine from one of the great terroirs of the Médoc.” Jeff Leve (99) calls it “concentrated, opulent, deep… mouthcoating,” highlighting “incredibly, creamy, silky tannins” and a “close to seamless” finish, with a drinking window of 2025–2055.

Other notes emphasize polish and detail. Neal Martin for *Vinous* (97) finds “wonderful intensity and focus… no hedonism here,” plus a finish that “lacquers the mouth,” suggesting more bottle age. *Wine Spectator* (96) points to “mocha, espresso and chocolate” over dense dark fruit and a long, loamy close. James Suckling (95) finds it “rich, powerful” though “slightly heavy on the mid-palate,” but praises the “ripe and generous finish.” Overall, it reads as a powerful, long-lived Ducru that still leans strongly on freshness, structure, and classic Saint‑Julien definition.