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! — a day ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

Chateau located in St. Julien region of France with famous neighbors as Cheateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou & Chateau Beychevelle. The name means "beautiful pebbles". Deep Ruby with aromas of sweet ripe berry fruits & floral notes. Palate shows flavors of blueberry, blackberry and sweet currants. Full ripe tannins, elegant structure, lingering, ending with earthy herbal character. Nice! — 6 years ago

Daniel M

8.9

Very profound nose which reminded me of a couple of bottles I had of clos du marquis. I said saint Julien but wasn’t sure. Blackcurrant, coffee, meat, tea... different layers. I was pretty sure at that point that it was a grand cru classé... the palate is not that wide and powerful. I thought then grand cru classé but in a small recent year. 2011 or 2013. The palate was evolving around an acid backbone with fine tannins and a lovely yet discreet fruit. Moderately long finish with fruit, coffee again and a pinch of salt. I finally went for haut marbuzet 2011. I was far away from it! Always trust a first impression. Superb nose, palate a bit under delivering when the nose raises such expectations. Overall lovely and well done. — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

Something for my Wagyu Burger.

I do enjoy this producers style/craft. Also, enjoy the elegance of St. Julien. 2012 is a vintage Sofia & 1 worked harvest at Clerc Milon. So, the 2012 vintage will always be a special vintage for me, even if it was only one that was good to very good for the right terroirs and producers. Just wasn’t special like; 00, 05, 09, 10, 16 or 19 etc..

Having said all that, this Ducru is not the 2012 star of the region. It’s elegant but falls short on depth, character & umpf, which are things I have grown to expect and have experienced from this producer in many vintages.

The palate shows, soft, round & velvety M-M+ tannins. Ripe; blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, some of both plums, slightly baked strawberries & circling raspberries. Slightly dry tobacco w/ ash, soft leather, sandalwood, mid, dark, rounded spice, nutmeg, clove, some cinnamon & vanillin, dark most earth with clay & dry leaves, herbaceous notes, very soft & elegant graphite, a touch of of mid berry cola/licorice, dark withering flowers, red roses, nice acidity with nicely balance, good tension/structured, elegant finish that last nearly two minutes and long sets on rounded dark spice.

@EmiratesLoungeDubai — 4 days ago

Iwan

9.4

Punches way above its weight. Can easily be mistaken for a first label. — 7 years ago

Manny Abascal

9.1

Took a while to open. Sweet, acidic a bit out of balance at first then came together. 1996 — 7 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.1

2019 vintage. Technically the second wine of Ducru Beaucaillou, as the Croix comes from different vineyards. Juicy and attractive — 13 days ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.2

2019 vintage. This seems to be a new wine by Saint-Julien cru classé Ducru-Beaucaillou, but not a word about this wine on their website. They do own 16 hectares of vineyards in Cussac, Haut-Médoc that were part of the vineyards at the time of the 1855 classification and therefore may be used for Ducru-Beaucaillou or Lalande-Borie, or can be used for a Haut-Medoc. To further complicate matters, this wine was bottled in Listrac, where they own Fourcas-Borie. Anyway, wherever the grapes come from, this is a very solid Haut-Médoc. According to a négiocant website it is a blend of 68% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc, aged 12 months in barriques (20% new). Dark red with purplish rim. Black and red fruits, violeta, dark chocolate and a subtle smokey oak touch. A medium-bodied, elegant wine with impeccable balance and very good length. Very good value too at less than 20 euros .Abv. 14%. — 3 years ago

Jack Petras

9.5

Had the 2009 Cannubi at an intimate tasting including a 1982 Ducru Beaucaillou!! Which was nearly perfect by the way. This Barolo while 9 years old was still ruby colored with structure and fresh tart berries. Also elegant and enchanting. Delicate earth, leather, herbs and olive tones. Perfect balance, and likely has at least another 9 years ahead of it. I’ve had the good fortune to have 2 sublime Nebbiolos within a week of each other. Aldo had 3 great highly touted Napa Cabs, but this Barolo eclipsed them with its subtlety and finesse — 7 years ago

Doggfather

8.9

Expecting a bit more. Maybe needed more time in the bottle? — 8 years ago