La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou 2022

A Saint-Julien red wine that delights with freshness and complexity

The estate

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, the emblematic Cru Classé of Saint-Julien, oversees a prestigious terroir. Over the last 300 years, six families have worked together to ensure that this Cru, with its unrivalled worldwide reputation, continues to shine. Owned by the Borie family since 1941, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou takes its name from its "beautiful pebbles" (beau caillou) terroir of Günzian gravel. Managed by Bruno Borie, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou ranks among the elite of Saint-Julien's great red wines. Vintage after vintage, its wines delight lovers of fine Médoc wines the world over.

The vineyard

What makes Château Ducru-Beaucaillou so special is the exceptional quality of its vineyards. The vines are planted on soils of Günzian and Pyrenean gravel deposited by the Gironde estuary almost two million years ago. These poor soils produce exceptional Saint-Julien wines. What's more, the proximity of the Château Ducru-Beaucaillou vineyards to the Gironde estuary provides natural protection against the vagaries of the weather.

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, the emblematic Cru Classé of Saint-Julien, oversees a prestigious terroir. Over the last 300 years, six families have worked together to ensure that this Cru, with its unrivalled worldwide reputation, continues to shine. Owned by the Borie family since 1941, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou takes its name from its "beautiful pebbles" (beau caillou) terroir of Gunzian gravel. Managed by Bruno Borie, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou ranks among the elite of Saint-Julien's great red wines. Vintage after vintage, its wines delight lovers of fine Médoc wines the world over.

The wine

Produced from a plot-by-plot selection of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou vines, La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou offers a unique vision of the great Saint-Julien terroir. This "high-flying" cuvée is made from vines located to the east of the estate, in the centre and west of the Saint-Julien AOC.

The vintage

There was a lot of rain in winter, which helped to replenish the water reserves in the soil. Spring and summer were characterised by drought and intense heat. The high temperatures in May were conducive to early and rapid flowering and fruit set. Hot, dry conditions in August slowed down veraison, but were counterbalanced by rains that helped the vineyards and boosted ripening.

Winemaking and ageing

Fermentation takes place in state-of-the-art conical wooden vats. Automatic, gentle pump-overs that can be split over 24 hours. The wine is aged for 12 months.

Blend

Merlot (66%)
Cabernet Sauvignon (32%)
Petit Verdot (2%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou 2022

Tasting

Nose
Concentrated yet dense, the nose opens with fragrances of kirsch and blueberry coulis, followed by hints of clove, Bourbon vanilla and smoky graphite which develop with aeration. 

Palate
The palate delights with its fine, full-bodied tannins blended with a lovely fruity structure. It reveals a saline character and a long finish marked by notes of fruit and spices.