La Croix de Beaucaillou 2022

At Laguna Cellar, we try not to pick favorites.  But sometimes a producer is just so special that we can’t help but be a little partial to them.  This is very much the case for Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. This St-Julien Second Growth is simply superb.  Robert Parker Jr describes the wines from this “Super Second” in his tome on Bordeaux to be the perfect essence of “elegance, symmetry, balance, breed, class and distinction.” If a reclassification were ever to be in the cards, Château Ducru-Beaucaillou would surely have a shot at First Growth status.

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 and was sold in 1866 to Lucie Caroline Dassier for one million francs.  Dassier was the wife of the famous negociant Nathaniel Johnston. Johnston performed numerous experiments at Château Ducru-Beaucaillou to protect the vines from various rots and diseases. He developed the first solution for mildew by creating what is now called, “Bordeaux Soup.” This concoction is a mixture of lime milk and copper sulfite used to cure the vines of mildew.  It is still used to protect against mildew today.  

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 chateau 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.  

The wines from Château Ducru-Beaucaillou differ from some of the brawnier wines St-Julien has to offer.  They develop very slowly over time but are definitely worth the wait, as the results are a stunning harmony of fruit and power. 

The second wine of the Château, Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, is a true reflection of the estate's expertise in winemaking, offering an approachable yet sophisticated expression of the St-Julien terroir. While the Grand Vin is known for its slow development and complexity, Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou offers earlier accessibility while still maintaining the hallmark elegance and depth that define the estate’s wines. Crafted with the same meticulous attention to detail, Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is made from younger vines, and it shares the same soil and meticulous care that the first wine receives. It's a remarkable introduction to the legacy of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou, providing an affordable yet excellent opportunity to experience the power and finesse of this iconic estate.

"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." - Jane Anson, (03/07/2025), Ratings: 94

"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." - Jeb Dunnuck, (02/28/2025), Ratings: 94

"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." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (02/12/2025), Ratings: 94

"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." - Georgina Hindle, Decanter, (05/25/2023), Ratings: 94