La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou
Saint Julien Red Bordeaux Blend
St. Julien, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, plums, licorice, light oak, chocolates, herbs, coffee, earth, spices, tobacco leaf and black tea.
Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Bordeaux is still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting. Fruit forward and elegant.
Easy drinking at this point, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$65.
Dark ruby in color with a short reddish rim.
Fruity nose and medium plus in body with medium acidity.
Dry on the palate with nice complexity.
Showing black currants, plums, licorice, light oak, chocolates, herbs, coffee, earth, spices, tobacco leaf and black tea.
Nice finish with fine grained tannins and tangy cherries.
This Cabernet Sauvignon based blend from Bordeaux is still young, but already enjoyable, even by itself.
Nicely balanced with a nice mouthfeel. Complex and interesting. Fruit forward and elegant.
Easy drinking at this point, and will continue to age nicely in the next 5 to 7 years.
A blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Aged in French oak barrels for 12 months.
12.5% alcohol by volume.
91 points.
$65.
This medium-full bodied wine offers aromas of dark berries with liquorice on the palette and a long finish.
This medium-full bodied wine offers aromas of dark berries with liquorice on the palette and a long finish.
Jan 29th, 2026
Smells really good. Smells like dark fruit. Oaky (maybe smoke). Really good but I think I like the previous red better.
Smells really good. Smells like dark fruit. Oaky (maybe smoke). Really good but I think I like the previous red better.
Jan 23rd, 2026
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!
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!
Sight: Fully opaque, legs, deep purplish red. Nose: Black fruit forward, plum. Mouth: Full bodied, high tannins, very earthy.
Sight: Fully opaque, legs, deep purplish red. Nose: Black fruit forward, plum. Mouth: Full bodied, high tannins, very earthy.
Apr 18th, 2025
I am drinking a Bordeaux Red Cabernet Sauvignon with a vintage of 2021. This bottle was selected for an in class activity regarding France. I have tried different Cabernet Sauvignons before and it is my favorite type of red, so I was expecting to enjoy the taste. It it a dark garnet color with oaky earth and dark fruit flavors. This tells me that it was fermented using oak barrels typical for this varietal. This wine is very good to me.
I am drinking a Bordeaux Red Cabernet Sauvignon with a vintage of 2021. This bottle was selected for an in class activity regarding France. I have tried different Cabernet Sauvignons before and it is my favorite type of red, so I was expecting to enjoy the taste. It it a dark garnet color with oaky earth and dark fruit flavors. This tells me that it was fermented using oak barrels typical for this varietal. This wine is very good to me.
Jan 23rd, 2026