La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou
Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
St. Julien, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, plums, licorice, light oak, chocolates, herbs, coffee, earth, spices, tobacco leaf and black tea.
Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Bordeaux is still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting. Fruit forward and elegant.
Easy drinking at this point, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$65.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, plums, licorice, light oak, chocolates, herbs, coffee, earth, spices, tobacco leaf and black tea.
Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Bordeaux is still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting. Fruit forward and elegant.
Easy drinking at this point, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$65.
Very deep nearly opaque red. Intense color and saturation. Some bell pepper, white pepper, and dried rosemary on the nose. Delicious blue fruits on the palate, mainly blackberry. Quite hot with the ALC-- Medium+. Medium acidity. Medium+ bodied. Definitely a wine for beef. Tannins are medium but there is a bitterness on the finish--which continues to deliver massive fruit. It's very good wine, that will be great in several years
93 points
Very deep nearly opaque red. Intense color and saturation. Some bell pepper, white pepper, and dried rosemary on the nose. Delicious blue fruits on the palate, mainly blackberry. Quite hot with the ALC-- Medium+. Medium acidity. Medium+ bodied. Definitely a wine for beef. Tannins are medium but there is a bitterness on the finish--which continues to deliver massive fruit. It's very good wine, that will be great in several years
93 points
Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral spice and smoky cedar notes, aged 12 months in 60% new barrels. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry and black cherry with cacao, tobacco, licorice and smoky spice. Fine grainy tannins, well balanced on long finish, ending with fruit, cedar, smoke and earthy mineral character. Very nice, will age well but wait a few more years to really enjoy!
Blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral spice and smoky cedar notes, aged 12 months in 60% new barrels. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry and black cherry with cacao, tobacco, licorice and smoky spice. Fine grainy tannins, well balanced on long finish, ending with fruit, cedar, smoke and earthy mineral character. Very nice, will age well but wait a few more years to really enjoy!
Apr 8th, 2023Blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral spice and smoky cedar notes, aged 12 months in 60% new barrels. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry and black cherry with cacao, tobacco, licorice and smoky spice. Fine grainy tannins, well balanced on long finish, ending with fruit, cedar, smoke and earthy mineral character. Very nice, will age well but wait a few more years to really enjoy!
Blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral spice and smoky cedar notes, aged 12 months in 60% new barrels. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry and black cherry with cacao, tobacco, licorice and smoky spice. Fine grainy tannins, well balanced on long finish, ending with fruit, cedar, smoke and earthy mineral character. Very nice, will age well but wait a few more years to really enjoy!
Apr 4th, 2023
The final wine of the evening was the 2019 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou. From the Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou their 2nd wine a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. A Left Bank Bordeaux from Saint-Julien.
On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, cassis, black currant, chocolate, smokey oak, vanilla, cedar and earth.
On the palate is black cherry, blackberry, spice, black currant, cedar, black pepper, graphite, tobacco and earth.
This is a full bodied wine with medium + acidity and medium + grippy sandpaper tannins moving into a long black fruit graphite earthy finish. Have a great weekend and continued love of wine. Stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
The final wine of the evening was the 2019 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou. From the Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou their 2nd wine a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. A Left Bank Bordeaux from Saint-Julien.
On the nose there is black cherry, blackberry, cassis, black currant, chocolate, smokey oak, vanilla, cedar and earth.
On the palate is black cherry, blackberry, spice, black currant, cedar, black pepper, graphite, tobacco and earth.
This is a full bodied wine with medium + acidity and medium + grippy sandpaper tannins moving into a long black fruit graphite earthy finish. Have a great weekend and continued love of wine. Stay safe and healthy. Nostrovia! 🍷🍷🍷🍷
Cassis, red plum, significant spice. Baked red raspberry, raspberry bar, vanilla, kirsch / dripping elegant with elegant, rich, textured black fruit / med+ throughout with prominent acid structure / a wine of serious clarity, but also of generous fruit / vanilla-mocha note comes through at the finish
Cassis, red plum, significant spice. Baked red raspberry, raspberry bar, vanilla, kirsch / dripping elegant with elegant, rich, textured black fruit / med+ throughout with prominent acid structure / a wine of serious clarity, but also of generous fruit / vanilla-mocha note comes through at the finish
Dec 23rd, 2019
La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou – 2021
AOC Saint-Julien – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷
Overview
The second wine of the famed 2nd Growth Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, crafted under the stewardship of the Borie family. The 2021 vintage carries the estate’s signature terroir of deep gravel soils (“beaux cailloux” meaning “beautiful stones”), producing wines with elegance, depth, and longevity. Typical blend leans on Cabernet Sauvignon 64%, Merlot 32% and Petit Verdot 4% for a compelling profile.
Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark plum layered with graphite, tobacco, and cedar. Secondary notes of violets, cocoa powder, and subtle spice add depth and intrigue.
Mouthfeel
Firm tannic backbone with a silky texture emerging mid-palate. Medium to full-bodied, offering precision and finesse over sheer power. Fresh acidity frames the fruit, finishing long with mineral-driven elegance.
Food Pairings
Ribeye steak, venison, or duck confit, gourmet burgers, grilled portobello mushrooms, or truffle pizza. Aged Comté, Ossau-Iraty, or sharp Cheddar.
Verdict
A true Saint-Julien expression, structured yet polished, approachable in youth but built to evolve. This second wine offers a taste of Ducru’s pedigree without the grand vin price tag.
Did You Know?
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou earned its name from the large “beautiful stones” (cailloux) that dominate the vineyard’s gravel soils, perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in heat-retentive terroir.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: For lovers of Left Bank Bordeaux, this is a perfect introduction to Ducru’s magic, refined, powerful, and unmistakably Saint-Julien at a very affordable price point. Cheers!
La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou – 2021
AOC Saint-Julien – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷
Overview
The second wine of the famed 2nd Growth Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, crafted under the stewardship of the Borie family. The 2021 vintage carries the estate’s signature terroir of deep gravel soils (“beaux cailloux” meaning “beautiful stones”), producing wines with elegance, depth, and longevity. Typical blend leans on Cabernet Sauvignon 64%, Merlot 32% and Petit Verdot 4% for a compelling profile.
Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark plum layered with graphite, tobacco, and cedar. Secondary notes of violets, cocoa powder, and subtle spice add depth and intrigue.
Mouthfeel
Firm tannic backbone with a silky texture emerging mid-palate. Medium to full-bodied, offering precision and finesse over sheer power. Fresh acidity frames the fruit, finishing long with mineral-driven elegance.
Food Pairings
Ribeye steak, venison, or duck confit, gourmet burgers, grilled portobello mushrooms, or truffle pizza. Aged Comté, Ossau-Iraty, or sharp Cheddar.
Verdict
A true Saint-Julien expression, structured yet polished, approachable in youth but built to evolve. This second wine offers a taste of Ducru’s pedigree without the grand vin price tag.
Did You Know?
Château Ducru-Beaucaillou earned its name from the large “beautiful stones” (cailloux) that dominate the vineyard’s gravel soils, perfect for Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in heat-retentive terroir.
🍷 Personal Pick Highlight: For lovers of Left Bank Bordeaux, this is a perfect introduction to Ducru’s magic, refined, powerful, and unmistakably Saint-Julien at a very affordable price point. Cheers!
Dark red, dark fruit on the nose, with medium acidity and some grippy tannins. Taste of dark fruit, baking spices, chocolate. Better with air on it.
Dark red, dark fruit on the nose, with medium acidity and some grippy tannins. Taste of dark fruit, baking spices, chocolate. Better with air on it.
May 14th, 2025