Croix Ducru Beaucaillou - Saint-Julien 2022

Alexandre Ma

94

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

In the hot and dry vintage of 2022, La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou tells me how to maintain purity amidst richness. The color is dark like black ink, though there is a noticeable toasty note at this stage, I could still feel the fragrance of plum and mulberry. Surprisingly, this full-bodied wine is incredibly smooth, like savouring a piece of dense plum jelly. The tannins gradually emerge on the finish, accompanied by warm alcohol, creating a peaceful experience on the palate.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

94

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

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.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

La Croix de Ducru-Beaucaillou, La

Jeb DUNNUCK

94

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

The second wine of the château, the 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is slightly more Merlot based, as the majority of the Cabernet Sauvignon went to the Grand Vin. Based on 66% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot, it has a dense purple hue as well as brilliant aromatics of ripe black cherries, cassis, graphite, and spring flowers. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Saint-Julien offering fine, polished tannins, remarkable elegance, and a great finish. Despite being a second wine, this brings ample structure and tannins and will have well over two decades of longevity.

Yvesbeck.wine

95

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

66% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot 12 mois d'élevage en barriques (dont 2/3 neuves) pour La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou. Le bouquet annonce d'entrée de la profondeur. Il est intense, subtil, invitant et frais ! En bouche, le vin convainc par la densité qu'il affiche dès l'attaque et qui est complétée par une touche saline. Ses tannins crémeux et parfaitement intégrés confèrent une puissance bien emballée et en phase avec une tension autant incisive que rafraîchissante. La grandeur est perceptible, le vin ouvre la voie à Ducru ! Une très belle réussite. 2028-2044 95/100

Vinous

94

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

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.

Jamessuckling.com

95

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

Such a youthful La Croix that’s full of bright blue fruit with lots of mineral tension. Violets, graphite and wet stones on the nose. Tight-grained and crunchy on the palate, with an almost full body and a long, fresh and compact finish. Firm, fresh and vibrant, with nicely chewy, stony tannins. It needs three to four years to come around. 66% merlot, 32% cabernet sauvignon and 2% petit verdot. Drink from 2029.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

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.

Decanter.com

94

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

Perfumed and so floral but high toned too, smells vibrant and open though also potent with smoked meat as well as sweet and cool fruit touches. Straight and well defined, lovely energy and poise, defined but characterful, thicker and more bold than Petit, the tannins are prominent and at the fore and the fruit is richer, more opulent and plush with crushed velvet textured tannins that all combine to give this a large structure from the get go. It has nice cushioning, there’s a bounce to this with lift from the cool freshness and salty flint elements. It’s imposing and out to shine with no harshness and lovely persistence of flavour. Ageing 12 months 60% new oak, 3.75pH, 93 IPT.

Vinous

93-95

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou contains a lot more Merlot this year as they were compensating for the lack of Cabernet Sauvignon, this Deuxième Vin raised in 80% new oak. It has a delineated bouquet with a mixture of red and black fruit. The briary and smoky aromas feel more understated compared to its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and seamlessly integrated oak that lends a silky texture. Very harmonious with an insistent grip (the IPT is 93), it lacquers the mouth long after it has departed. That Pauillac tincture is displayed and defines its precise finish. Excellent, but be warned that the oak will require several years to assimilate fully. Not so far behind the Grand Vin because of the growing season.

The Vintage Journal

95-96

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Intense dark cherry, dark chocolate. Salted liquorice aromas with mocha, marzipan ian notes. Richly concentrated dark cherry paneforte flavours, vigorous chocolatey/ velvetine tannins some cedar notes, superb mid palate density. Bitter sweet firm finish. (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot 60% new oak) 95-96

matthewjukes.com

18

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

90-92

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

The 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is a blend of 66% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a swirl or two to reveal very pure, evocative notes of baked plums, boysenberries, and pencil shavings, leading to suggestions of sauteed herbs and forest floor. The medium-bodied palate is intensely fruity and tightly wound with loads of savory layers and a firm backbone of grainy tannins, leading to a long, mineral-laced finish. This is impressive! pH 3.75, TPI 93.

Bettane & Desseauve

92-93

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Puissant et harmonieux, saint-julien dans le corps et dans l’esprit, il faudra peut-être un peu plus de temps pour retrouver la finesse aromatique si merveilleuse du même vin dans le millésime 2020.

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

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.

Vinous

92-94

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is super-expressive. The aromatics and tannin show strong Cabernet Sauvignon-inflections, but the blend actually favors Merlot in this vintage, as yields in the Cabernet were on the low side. This serious, potent Saint-Julien is going to need a bit of time to fully come together, but it is certainly impressive. Drinking window : 2025-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-95

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Quite floral in nature, you also find mint, cassis, and tobacco leaf. The palate is where the wine shines with its sweet, ripe, plums, black cherries, cocoa, soft tannins and polished, sense of refinement in the mid palate and in the finish. The wine is a blend of 66% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 2% Petit Verdot. 14% ABV. Drink from 2025-2040.

Wine Advocate

90-92

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

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.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

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.