La Croix de Beaucaillou - Château Ducru-Beaucaillou - Saint-Julien 2017 6b11bd6ba9341f0271941e7df664d056

Jeb DUNNUCK

90-92 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

A blend of 58% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot, 60% new oak, the deep ruby-colored 2017 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou from the charismatic winemaker Bruno Borie is another elegant, seamless wine from this vintage. It’s certainly a high-quality second wine. (It’s more like a second cuvée as it comes from a designated sector of vines.) Crème de cassis, crushed flowers, violets, and forest floor notes all flow to a medium-bodied, silky 2017 that has fine, fine tannin and plenty of length. Drink it while you wait on the Grand Vin.

Vinifera

92 / 100

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Nez profond, racé, sur les fruits noirs, la réglisse. Forme en bouche évasée, qui se déploie lentement, articulée autour d’une trame tannique très fine. Belle finale empreinte d’élégance.

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is loaded with dark stone fruit, grilled herb, lavender and torrefaction notes. Powerful and dense, with serious richness, La Croix is anything but an easygoing second wine. In 2017 La Croix is built on a core of Merlot rather than Cabernet, which likely accounts for the wine's rich mid-palate and fleshy feel. The blend is 58% Merlot, 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot.

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-93 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Dried flowers, cocoa, plums, cherry and cassis create a wine that's fruity and fresh, sweet and round and light on its feet. The finish of licorice and ripe, red berries is easy to like and already delicious to drink. From a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 13.68% alcohol and is aging in 60% new, French oak barrels.

Vinous

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 La Croix de Beaucaillou sees 60% new oak for 12 months, with a fairly high IPT of 75. It has a ripe and generous bouquet of blackberry, fresh fig, cedar and crushed violets that blossom in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity, that structure making its presence felt towards the finish that exerts an insistent grip. As such, this will probably require three or four years in bottle just to soften the edges.

Wine Advocate

89-91 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

This is not a second wine per se, as it consistently comes from a separate vineyard in Saint-Julien. The blend is usually around 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, but this year it has a high percentage of Merlot: 58%, with 39% Cabernet Sauvignon and 3% Petit Verdot. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 La Croix de Beaucaillou has quite a spicy nose sporting cloves, anise, black pepper and fenugreek with a core of crushed blackberries and black currants plus wafts of underbrush and potpourri. The palate is medium-bodied with firm, grainy tannins and great freshness supporting the vivacious fruit, finishing long and earthy.

Decanter.com

91 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

The Merlot here is grown on sandy-gravel soils and brings both freshness and structure. There's good balance, plush autumnal berry fruits and lovely spice, supported by well placed, delicate tannins. It's a clear Médoc twist on the varietal, even though this is a little lusher and more approachable than in recent years where Cabernet Sauvignon has been higher in the blend - last year it was at 66%, but vintage conditions in 2017 affected some of the crop. It's a little different in expression from 2016, but is an extremely high quality, great drinking wine. 3.74pH. IPT 75.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2038

Wine Enthusiast

92-94 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

This wine, from a dedicated parcel of Ducru-Beaucaillou, is rich and structured with solid tannins. The tannins meld with ripe black plum and berry flavors offering a rich intensity.

Jamessuckling.com

92-93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

This is very fresh and minerally with a salty and oyster shell character. Full body, tight and bright. Plenty of currant flavors too.

Wine Spectator

89-92 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

Solid, with a fresh beam of plum, black currant and anise flavors riding along a racy graphite edge. Clear and focused. Not big but a textbook St.-Julien.—J.M.