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! — 13 days ago

Jessi Campos

9.5

Paris 2025.. brought back. — 3 months ago

Tom Casagrande

9.1

The ‘22 of this wine is a worthy successor to the surprisingly excellent ‘21. Deep, bright iodine-laced mountain berries on the nose, with dark florals and spice. In the mouth it’s a little more angular and as-yet disjointed than the ‘21, but I think a year or so will pull it together. Acids, tannin, extract, moderate alcohol (14.5%) are all there, but they haven’t made friends yet. They will. Very nice. — 6 months ago

Xista

9.1

Light tannin - tobacco leather - dark ruby red — 5 days 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

K Brooks

9.0

Wonderful with pork tenderloin. Smooth and fruity — 2 months ago

Reed H Whitman

9.3

Very good white from Burgundy bought in London and enjoyed with dinner. — 5 months ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.1

Merlot dominates this blend but there is some Cabernet Sauvignon and some Cabernet Franc blended in. Medium ruby color with a slight clear meniscus. Fruit forward aromas and flavors of blackberry, black cherry, dark plum, baking spices and cedar. Medium-plus finish. Medium body and very silky tannins. Well balanced/layered acidity and a very silky texture. A bit more austere than a traditional Medoc red blend. At peak. — a month ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. — 24 days ago

Marshall Todd Herron DPM

9.8

WOW!!!! 2017 Chateau Gloria Saint-Julien , Domaines MARTIN. - Bordeaux France!!!!!!! I have finally found an exceptional bordeaux that rocks my taste buds! The color is dark burgundy. The legs are long and slow. On the nose, there’s lots of rhubarb pie and violets! My initial pallet is tantalized with explosions of blueberries, boysenberries, cherries, and chocolate. The mid pallet quickly resolves into a velvety, slightly buttered texture. Then there is a dive straight to the finish with lots of earthy oak and cigar box with a very moderately dry finish. . This is a good one!!!!!! We purchased this in Ireland and brought it home to the USA. Unfortunately, we only bought one bottle which is already halfway gone and I’m sure as you’re reading this, it will be completely gone.  — 3 months ago