2019 Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou 'La Croix de Beaucaillou' Saint Julien

Beaucaillou translates to "beautiful pebble." This estate takes its name from the stones that lie in the vineyards. Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou is one of the oldest in the Medoc, with records dating back to the 13th century.

The Borie family has been at the helm of the estate since 1940, consistently looking to improve. It is now managed by Bruno-Eugène Borie, the youngest son of the family and third generation of Borie, who has hands-on involvement in making the wine. 

Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou is a world-renowned 2nd Growth classified Chateau. The estate has been one of wine critic's darlings through the years and has received numerous accolades and 90+ scores. They were awarded "the wine of the vintage" from Wine Spectator for their 1995 vintage.

Like the best classified growths that stretch along the estuary, starting from Margaux in the south, up to St Estèphe in the north, this property is perched on a magnificent emplacement of the Médoc with an unimpeded view over the Gironde estuary. The terroir of Saint Julien appellation is characterized by gravel from the Garonne dating back to the first period (Günz) of the Quaternary era; this layer gradually thins out from east to west, dwindling to fine white gravel and eolian sands at the westernmost end of the appellation.

Ducru-Beaucaillou vineyard stretches out along the eastern side of this vast communal terroir, hugging the river in the area where the quaternary gravels are the deepest. Gravel soil presents many advantages: it drains well, reflects the sun onto the grapes in closely planted vineyards, stores the heat of the day and releases it at night, forms a barrier that prevents the soil from drying out during hot summers… It is because of its soil that Ducru-Beaucaillou is often considered the archetypal Saint-Julien.

La Croix is Ducru-Beaucaillou's second label. These wines are crafted from the grapes grown in the beautiful vineyard of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, located in an exceptional Médoc terroir, and an ideal soil is for producing top-quality wines. The vineyard is divided into two sections, each with its own special characteristics. La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is a one-of-a-kind blend that represents the estate's unique terroir, and the winery takes a passionate and dedicated approach to craft exceptional wines.

Aging: 12 months in French oak barrels (60% new)

50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot.
See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Fantastic aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants, licorice and walnuts. So St.-Julien. Full-bodied with a solid core of fruit and chewy tannins that are really long and serious. Like the 1995 Ducru! One for the cellar. Needs at least until after 2028. ~96 James Suckling

Where you can drink Le Petit Ducru relatively soon, with La Croix you need to wait a few years for the structure to soften. The tannins are silky, the black fruits drenched in espresso, liquorice root spice and smoked oak. An extremely successful La Croix, sexy and powerful while still elegant and sculpted. Give it five or six years from now, and expect a drinking window of at least 15 years. Almost entirely from specific plots within the Ducru vineyard, plus a few young vines of the Grand Vin. 60% new oak. ~95 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

The second wine of this great château is the 2019 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, which is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new barrels. It fits into the lineup beautifully and sits nicely between the Le Petit Ducru and the Grand Vin. Deep purple-hued, with full-bodied aromas and flavors of pure cassis, crushed stone, graphite, lead pencil, and smoked tobacco, it has building yet fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It shows the more regal, classy, elegant, yet still concentrated style of this vintage perfectly. Give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and it will have upwards of two decades of prime drinking. ~94 Jeb Dunnuck

Deep damson colour and mouthfilling from the start, this expands outwards through the palate, filling up with concentrated yet plush berry fruits, notes of smoked oak, hazelnut, grilled liquorice. A real presence, approaches the 2016 but with more evident approachability. Appealing now but sure that it will close down pretty tightly for a while as this has a high tannin count of 88IPT. ~94 Decanter

The 2019 La Croix Ducru Beaucaillou is matured for 12 months in 60% new oak. Interestingly, that Earl Grey tincture continues to define this very classically styled wine, enhancing the black fruit. Hints of ash emerge with time. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and plenty of graphite-infused black fruit that render this quite Pauillac in style. Impressively persistent on the tobacco-tinged finish. Leave this for 4–5 years in bottle just to smooth its edges. ~94 Vinous Media

The wine has power and density. Packed with generous, firm tannins and dense fruits, the wine is a balanced blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. Produced from a specific parcel, the wine will age well. Drink from 2026. Roger Voss. ~ 94 Wine Enthusiast

Polished, fresh, elegant and loaded with currants, cherries, tobacco, smoke, licorice, espresso and leafy herbs, the wine is medium-bodied, forward, juicy and vibrant with lift, energy and refinement on the palate and in the fruit-filled, soft-textured finish. Drink from 2023-2036. ~ 93 Jeff Leve The Wine Cellar Insider

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