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! — 7 days ago

Carolyn Sue

10

Delicious light and crisp — 2 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Sergio nevarez — 2 months ago

Galen Hasler

9.2

Everything — 8 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.3

2018 vintage. — 18 days 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

Jack Krawczyk

9.8

gold tone - ripe apricot — 4 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

Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Clos des Lunes “Lune d’Argent” 2023
Bordeaux Blanc, Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic white Bordeaux blend of 70% Sémillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc. The estate is known for showcasing the nobility of Sémillon in dry form — rare in Bordeaux, where it is often associated with sweet Sauternes. Here, Sémillon brings waxy texture, depth, and honeysuckle complexity, while Sauvignon Blanc adds grassy aromatics and a zesty lift.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive notes of ripe citrus, white peach, honeysuckle, and subtle herbs, framed by hints of wet stone and fresh-cut grass. The interplay of ripe fruit and grassy vibrancy creates both richness and freshness.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a supple, almost waxy texture from the Sémillon, balanced by Sauvignon’s crisp acidity. Clean, mineral, and refreshing on the finish, with good persistence.

Winemaking Notes
Harvested by hand and vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel with partial maturation on fine lees to preserve both aromatic intensity and structure. This process highlights both varietals’ best traits.

Food Pairing
Perfect with seafood gastronomy — oysters, scallops, grilled prawns, or sea bass. It also pairs beautifully with goat cheese, light poultry, or herbed vegetable dishes.

Verdict
A refined Bordeaux Blanc that balances richness and freshness, showing why Sémillon deserves more attention in dry blends. Stylish, versatile, and perfect for the table. — 2 months ago

Andrew McIntyre

9.2

This is young...very young. However! This is already very impressive. Somewhat of a "if you know, you know" wine that has bags of potential. Give this 10 years and it will go up against almost any wine. Did an aged blind tasting against Dominus a few years ago and this smashed. Good one to have in your cellar! — 4 months ago