La Croix de Ducru-Beaucaillou 2017

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

VertdeVin

The nose is fruity, fresh and offers crunchiness. It reveals small notes of cassis, fresh blackberry and fine notes of fresh raspberry, flowers associated with discreet touches of minerality (gravels/terroir) as well as subtle/discreet hints of menthol liquorice (in the background) and very discreet hints of spices. The palate is fresh (good freshness), fruity, well-balanced, racy and offers a good definition, fat, a fine suavity, a fine juiciness, a good guideline, dynamism as well as a mineral frame. On the palate this wine expresses notes of juicy/fresh cassis, fresh/crunchy redcurrant and more slightly cherry, wild raspberry associated with discreet touches of chocolate, sweet spices, vanilla as well as a very discreet hint of minerality almost ioded (in the background), very discreet hints of ripe almond and an imperceptible hint of grilled on the finish/persistence. Tannins are well-built and slightly chewy. Fine chews on the finish.

Wine Enthusiast

This wine has structure and dense tannins that come from the dominant Cabernet Sauvignon. Black-currant flavors are layered within the ripe structure of a fruity wine with a great future. Drink from 2024.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

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.