2023 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux

58% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot. Cask sample.

Deep, purple-black colour. Rich, ripe and a touch flashy to start. But reasonably structured with some freshness as well. Saline finish. Medium-term drinking.

Drink 2030 - 2038

The 2023 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou marries sophistication with the textural richness that is such a signature here. All the elements are so well balanced. Jammy dark red fruit, pomegranate, blood orange, spice and mocha infuse the 2023 with tons of nuance. Supple tannins wrap it all together. This Saint-Julien screams with character.

Drink 2025 - 2035

The true second wine of this great château, the 2023 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is 58% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot, resting in a mix of mostly once-used oak. It has a more Cabernet nose of ripe red, blue, and black fruits as well as subtle tobacco, iron, sappy flowers, and graphite notes. Medium-bodied, balanced, and elegant on the palate, it has fine tannins and a great finish. It shines for its overall balance as well as purity. This beauty hit 13.5% alcohol, with a pH of 3.71 and a massive IPT of 91.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2023 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou comes bounding out with notes of Morello cherries, wild blueberries, and fresh blackberries followed by hints of iris, pencil lead, and fragrant earth. The medium-bodied palate is light on its feet and refreshing, with soft, approachable tannins and plenty of bright blue and black fruit, finishing with a skip in its step. The blend is 58% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot.

Drink 2028 - 2042

The 2023 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou has a very perfumed and floral bouquet: plush red berry fruit, vanilla, cedar and blood orange, well-defined with deftly integrated new oak 60%). The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins that lend this La Croix a bit more backbone than recent vintages. It’s very fresh; white pepper and thyme complement the bright red fruit, leading to an overtly peppery finish, with a touch of graphite on the aftertaste.

Drink 2029 - 2045

Inky plum colour, high tannic count 91IPT) but with a cushion of air running underneath, this delivers a contrast of light and shade, and captures an effortless St Julien character, coupled with floral and savoury Cabernet, and the kick of gourmet cocoa bean that is a signature of the wine. 60% new oak.

Drink 2025 - 2032

The purity of fruit is so beautiful here with blackcurrants and violets, as well as freshly shaved lead pencil. It’s medium-bodied with refined tannins that are wonderfully polished and give plenty of texture. Goes on for minutes. Second wine of Ducru. 58% merlot, 40% cabernet sauvignon and 2% petit verdot.