Freddy R. Troya

9.3

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! — 6 days ago

Shizuka Tanoue

9.0

料理を引き立ててくれる！ — 3 years ago

Vitaly Domnenko

9.2

Long decanting is necessary!
Bm+. Tm+. Am. Fm. — 5 years ago

Alexandre Pagliano

9.0

We took no notes. Very modern but not overdone, we actually liked it a lot. — a month ago

with Jose, veronique and 1 other

Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2020 | Excited that I was able to buy this cuvée 20000 because it is made from a small vineyard plot of 1,4 ha. This Merlot wine is performing above its modest origin. Fine smell with red fruit, plums and spices. Velvety taste after a few hours aeration. Reminds me of Saint Emilion Grand Crus. Lovely effort. Paired with Beef and mango Cantonese Style. | Also impressions of mocca and chocolate after more time in the glass. — a year ago

Jan Laursen

8.9

Fyldig, frugtig, let floral, men heldigvis også stram syre. Rigtig fin madvin. — 4 years ago

Boris Mathiszik

9.2

The 2015 BDX continue to amaze and this Fronsac fits the bill. No decanting necessary. Jumping out of the bottle with beautiful red fruit and cassis notes, silky, and nicely balanced and integrated tannins, at such a young age, I am amazed. Feels like drinking a Grand Cru from a slightly lesser vintage. Great value too. If I can find it, I’ll buy a case. Hopefully two. — 5 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. — 18 days ago

"Odedi"

9.0

It is time for some Merlot on this #MerlotThursday. Let's bring Merlot back!

Pretty color of ruby with a wide reddish rim.

Fruity nose with red and black fruits, light wood, tobacco and chocolate notes.

Medium plus in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with blueberries, black plums, currants, light wood, spices, coffee and peppercorn.

Medium plus in length on the finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.

This is a very tasty second wine from this Grand Cru Estate in Saint Emilion. Soft and elegant.

Balanced and fruit forward with nice complexity.

Drinking at its peak now, and will continue to drink nicely in the next few years.

Easy drinking and good by itself or with food. A nice sipping wine.

A blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc. Aged for 15 months in used French oak barrels.

13% alcohol by volume.

90 points.

$30. — 3 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.7

Muscular very chalky Corton Charlemagne “la croix”. Wood not fully integrated. Very promising — 4 years ago