La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou 2018

Cabernet Sauvignon’s savoury black-fruit flavours dominate on the attack, along with a swirl of spice. Small berries brought great concentration, and the vintage saw a full 130 days between flowering and harvest (compared, for example, with 115 days in 2005). Rich in fruit expression, with complexity and a lovely slate character along with charcoal, liquorice and campfire. This is a lovely glass of polished St-Julien. Harvest from 19 September to 10 October. 66% new oak. IPT tannin index 90.

Aromas of blackberry, blueberry and blackcurrant with violet and lavender, leading to a full-bodied palate with very fine tannins and a creamy, beautifully caressing texture. Lovely chocolate, walnut and berry aftertaste. Second wine of Ducru. Drink after 2025.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, discreet ochre lightening on the rim. Attractive bouquet with hints of nougat and ripe fig, dark berry fruit, delicate sweetness and fine wood savouriness. Juicy palate, red cherry fruit, fine, well-integrated tannins, but with some noticeable tannin on the finish. Already well developed and a versatile food wine.

The second wine of this great domaine is the 2018 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou. A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot, this ripe, opulent beauty boasts a dense purple color along with a sexy, full-bodied style showing loads of blackcurrants, cassis, spice, candied violet, and tobacco-like aromas and flavors. Plush, full-bodied, and concentrated on the palate, this is one big, sumptuous Saint-Julien that’s going to evolve for 15–20 years or more.

Velvety, powerful, fruity bouquet: cassis, blueberries, black cherries, fine woods, tobacco, delicate mocha. Densely knit, powerful palate with plenty of fine tannins, robust dark fruit, muscular structure, deep dark aromatics, long, firm finish. 17/20 2024 - 2048

Deep garnet red. Complex bouquet. On the palate, the wine is dense, creamy, and racy. The tannins embrace the power while enhancing its pedigree. Elegant, well-integrated tannins. A wine that paves the way for the grand wine.

The nose is fruity, offering subtle concentration, subtle power, and a touch of freshness. It reveals notes of fresh/juicy blackcurrant, juicy raspberry, and, more slightly, juicy blackberry, combined with fine hints of lilac, precise minerality, a very discreet touch of cardamom, and a toasted nuance. The palate is fruity, balanced, and racy, with a juicy/tangy backbone, good definition, finesse and tension, a certain delicacy, a subtle minerality, and fine concentration. On the palate, this wine shows notes of juicy/fleshy blackberry, juicy raspberry and, more slightly, small ripe/juicy red berries, with a touch of blueberry, toast, chocolate, and fine hints of caramelization. The tannins are precise and fine. A wine of great finesse and delicacy, full of indulgence. Note (Score): 16.25+/20

The 2018 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou is deep garnet purple in color. It features notions of warm cassis, baked plums, and roses, with hints of spice cake, chocolate, and stewed tea. Medium-bodied, the palate has ripe, grainy tannins and just enough freshness supporting the generous fruit, with a fragrant finish.

Richly juicy and intense, this wine is massive, with concentrated tannins and dusty texture. The wine has weight and density but is also impressively fresh with acidity. It's a successful combination for this second wine of Ducru-Beaucaillou. Drink from 2027.