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! — 3 days ago

David Valenti

9.0

So great. Tobacco and herbs, earth. Full-bodied, juicy mouth full of ripe red and dark fruits. Perfect balance. — a month ago

Carolyn Sue

10

Delicious light and crisp — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.5

Blend of 50% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 5% Pinot Meunier, medium gold color, fine bubbles and mousse, aromas of fresh stone fruits, warm biscuits and hints of floral. On the palate fresh fruit flavors of white peaches, pineapple, pear and baked apple with hints of citrus zest. Long elegant finish ending with rich yeasty mineral character and a touch of smoky oak. Bring on the tuna tartare! — 14 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. — 14 days ago

"Odedi"

9.1

Dark ruby in color with a wide reddish rim.

Very fruity on the nose and full bodied with medium minus acidity.

Dry to off dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black currants, blackberries, cooked plums, oak, vanilla, dried fruits, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light herbs and peppercorn.

Short finish with soft tannins and tangy raspberries.

This 8 year old Pinot Noir from Santa Barbara County is still drinking very nicely, but will not get better from this point.

Complex and easy drinking. Fruit forward with a touch of RS. Rich and extracted with a mouth coating feel.

A nice sipping wine.

14.6% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$50. — 2 months ago

Andrea Watt

9.0

Blackberry, violet, cedar, and earthy notes. Rich and deep for a Pinot. — 3 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

8.9

Old gold , orange rind colour , quite a lot of bubbles still . Quite mature nose with roasted walnuts , some herbal , porcini , coffee tinged notes , hints of red currant . On the palate this also shows quite a bit of age with roasted nuts , some lightly herbal notes , honey , balanced acidity . A little short and simple on the finish , hints of orange rind and dried rose . This needs to be drunk over the next few years , don’t see this improving . — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Crimson with a cherry red tinge. A certain pong on the nose - a cowyard note but not off putting - I like it. On the medium bodied palate black fruits and sour cherry. Highly savoury on the palate. The cowyard notes remained throughout the 3 to 4 hour time frame to consume the bottle. I drink very few Loire Valley reds but on the basis of this wine I should drink more. — 2 months ago

Scott E. Becker

9.2

[Tasted on July 26, 2025 at l’Ete du Vin with Ned and Beth]

Lemon, apple, mango and mandarin orange, with ginger and almonds. — 3 months ago