2015 La Croix de Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
OVERVIEW
This fresh and spice laden second wine from Ducru comes from the superb 2015 vintage, a year in which no one in St Julien made a bad wine! The parcel of vines used for the production of La Croix are in the very heart of the estate next to Leoville-Barton. More approachable in youth than the Ducru and spending just 12 months in 60% new oak, this wine is a majority Cab blend with around 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot added to the mix.
CRITIC REVIEWS
The second wine of Ducru comes from the central part of St. Julien, representing a 30-hectare parcel next to Léoville-Barton. This has lovely cassis purity, some chalky freshness, a dash of pepper spice from the Petit Verdot and serious, age worthy tannins. Drink: 2020-28. 94 Points. Tim Atkin (April 2016)
Velvet tannins are allied with powerful fruit to create a rich wine with signs of the wood aging that smooth it further. It will be a generous wine that will keep its fine fruitiness for many years. 93-95 Points. Wine Enthusiast
Dark berries, iron and hints of rust with some iodine. Full-bodied, round and juicy with a solid backbone of tannins and focus. This second wine of Ducru-Beaucaillou. Polished. Drink in 2021. 93 Points. James Suckling (Feb 2018)
The 2015 La Croix de Beaucaillou has a very composed bouquet that captures the fruité of the vintage, almost lush, pure black cherries intermingling with cranberry and blueberry. There is a patina of new oak to be subsumed so it will certainly deserve three or four years in bottle. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin on the entry, cloaked by layers of slightly toasty black fruit laced with cedar, white pepper and a touch of Lapsang Souchong. This is very harmonious with great depth while maintaining superb precision on the finish. What a superb deuxième vin. Anticipated maturity: 2021 - 2040. 92 Points. Neal Martin (March 2018)
FOOD PAIRING INSPIRATION
The ultimate Bordeaux blend for a top notch Sunday roast, steak, red meat or game dish.
VINTAGE AND WINEMAKING
2015 vintage was one of drought as it was a hot, dry summer with very little rain until August. The best wines came from vineyards that had good drainage and the ability to handle the rain that fell in August including Château Ducru-Beaucaillou.
After picking the grapes are de-stemmed and then fermented in stainless steel tanks. Malolactic fermentation takes place in tank and in barrel. The wine is then aged in barrel with 60% in new French oak for 18 months before being bottled.
PRODUCER NOTES
For over 300 years now Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou has played a key role in the development of the reputation of the wines of St Julien and so it is today. The Chateau itself is one of he grandest in the Medoc with its views over the Gironde Estuary he envy of its near neighbours.
History and heritage aside, the wines produced at Ducru over the last decade have elevated this Chateau into the realm of the 'Super Second', second perhaps only to Leoville Las Cases is the estimation of the critics and superior too for many. The first wine is made of much the same blend as the second wine, spending six months longer in oak, and frequently tops 98 points in the very best vintages. Both wines are known for their lively freshness and depth of texture among their St Julien peers.
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SERVICE AND STORAGE TIPS
The wine should be stored over the longer term at 12c. We recommend this wine be brought up to around 16c for service. This temperature more closely resembles cellar conditions and allows the wine to be lifted and have freshness. For such a young wine, if it were served today we would recommend a few hours in a young wine decanter.
DELIVERY INFORMATION
Delivery is free when you spend over £150. For orders under this amount then a £9.99 delivery charge will be applied.
We use a tracked DPD delivery service who provide text and email tracking updates.
Every bottle sold by CoolerSomm is subject to our quality guarantee. If a wine is corked or faulty, we will replace it.
2015 La Croix de Beaucaillou, St Julien, Bordeaux, France
| Wine Card | |
| Wine Producer | Château Ducru-Beaucaillou |
| Wine Region | Bordeaux |
| Wine Classification | AOC St Julien |
| Wine Type | Red |
| Grape Variety | Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot |
| Vintage | 2015 |
| Vintage Quality | Extraordinary - Parker |
| Maturity | Drinking Now - Will evolve |
| Body | Mid-Full Bodied |
| Sweetness | Dry |
| Alcohol % | 13.5% |
| Bottle Type | Bordeaux 75cl |
| Serving Temperature | 16-18°C |
| Food Pairing | Roasted Meats, Sunday Roast |
| Awards | 94 Points - Tim Atkin |
| 93 Points - James Suckling | |
| 92 Points - Neal Martin |
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