Appellations

Croix Ducru Beaucaillou (2nd label of Ducru) 2022

St Julien, Second wine

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Tasting Notes

Intense, concentrated, succulent, bitter cocoa bean and mint leaf, dark berry fruit, this is capturing the spirit of the vintage but giving it a sleek, confident accent, packed with sinewy tannins, and floral accents. 80% new oak for ageing, harvest September 7 to October 4. An upscore since En Primeur.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2027-2046 Date: 06 March 2025

The 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou has a wonderful, beautifully defined bouquet with pure blackberry, briar and cedar scents becoming ever more floral as it opens in the glass. It's concentrated but very well controlled. The palate is medium-bodied, tensile and poised with saturated tannins, a keen line of acidity and a sophisticated, persistent finish. This is a seriously fine Deuxième Vin that should require three or four years in bottle.

Score: 94 Neal Martin, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2030-2058 Date: 12 February 2025

The 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is a huge, dense wine. A blast of dark cherry, plum, chocolate, leather, incense and new leather saturates the palate. Broad, ample and explosive, with staining intensity, La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is a plush, opulent Saint-Julien. There's tremendous textural presence here, with the tannins to match.

Score: 93 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2027-2037 Date: 28 January 2025

The second wine of this great château, the 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is based on two-thirds Merlot with the balance mostly Cabernet Sauvignon, raised in 80% new French oak. Hitting 14% natural alcohol, its vivid purple hue is followed by stunning aromatics of cassis, blueberries, tobacco, graphite, and chalky minerality. Full-bodied on the palate, it brings plenty of concentration and structure yet is balanced and has a great mid-palate and outstanding length. If there was a ranking for the top second wines in Bordeaux, this would be in the top handful of releases.

Score: 93 - 95 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 05 October 2023

The 2022 La Croix de Beaucaillou opens in the glass with aromas of dark berries, cigar wrapper and fresh mint, framed by creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a deep core of fruit framed by chunky tannins, it's a blend of 66% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Petit Verdot.

Score: 90 - 92 William Kelley, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 28 April 2023

A chewy and polished red with blackberry and blueberry character. Full to medium body. Fine and tensioned. Excellent finish. Salty. Blackcurrants at the end. 66% merlot, 32% cabernet sauvignon, and 2% petit verdot.

Score: 94 - 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 13 April 2023