La Croix de Beaucaillou 2017

At Laguna Cellar, we try not to pick favorites.  But sometimes a producer is so special that we can’t help but be a little partial to them.  This is very much the case for Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. Robert Parker Jr describes the wines from this “Super Second” to be the perfect essence of “elegance, symmetry, balance, breed, class and distinction.” La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou provides connoisseurs with the perfect opportunity to be seduced by this estate.

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou has a long history that dates back to the 13th Century.  It received its namesake when Bertrand Ducru purchased the estate back in 1795.  The Château was loved by politicians and noblemen alike. Bertrand Ducru’s daughter married the speaker for the French Parliament, and the story goes that he switched the politician’s customary glass of water for a glass of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. The property had a sterling reputation from being classified as a Second Growth in 1855.

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is unique in so many aspects.  One of which is that it receives part of its namesake from the terroir that is specific to this estate.  The estate’s signature Gunz gravel reflects the sun’s rays and offers the perfect drainage for the 50 hectares Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines. The name, “Beaux Cailloux,” loosely translates to, “beautiful stones.” The winemaking team firmly believes these special pebbles do all the work on the estate in transforming their precious grapes into astounding, mineral-driven wines with tremendous ageing potential.  Guests to the château are sometimes given a token of souvenir in the form of a velvet-boxed pebble from the land around the estate.

One cannot talk about Château Ducru-Beaucaillou without mentioning the current owner, Bruno Borie.  Borie is a legendary figure in the Bordeaux Wine Community, and brings his passion, knowledge, and perfectionism to Château Ducru-Beaucaillou.  Borie made many contributions to the Wine and Spirits world, including revitalizing the image of the popular brand Lillet by making sure it was featured in the James Bond movie Quantum of Solace. This likable and happy man made many major contributions to the estate, but the most notable one was ridding it of its TCA - cork taint - problem in the 1980s and 1990s.  Bruno made sure that the older vintages were recorked, and all the contaminated corks were destroyed.  

La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is an expression of multiple terroirs in Ducru-Beaucaillou.  With a higher amount of Cabernet Sauvignon tempered with Merlot and a touch of Petit Verdot, the wine is aged in new French oak for approximately one year.  La Croix de Beaucaillou is consistently described as powerful and aromatic, with the signature finesse of a classic Saint-Julién.  The team at Château Ducru-Beaucaillou holds this wine to the same rigorous standards as the grand vin. Like its counterpart, La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou differs from some of the brawnier wines St-Julien has to offer.  There is a lean power to this wine combined with supple sophistication.  It can be enjoyed on the younger side and is a great introduction to the estate.

''Coming mostly from a single parcel in the northern part of the estate, the 2017 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is a final blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and the balance Petit Verdot. It has a great nose of creme de cassis, crushed rock, lead pencil, and dried herbs. This gives way to a medium to full-bodied, elegant wine that has silky tannins, a great mid-palate, and bright acidity. Give bottles 4-6 years of bottle age and enjoy over the following two decades.'' Jeb Dunnuck, 2017 Bordeaux From Bottle (2/26/2020) Ratings: 93+ Drink: 2024-2044

"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." - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, Rating: (89-91)