La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou 2018, Grande Réserve Saint-Julien - Parker 92

Winemaker and Vineyard: The wines of La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou come from the vineyard of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. This exceptional Médoc cru is spread between the river to the East and the centre and West of the AOC Saint-Julien area. The estate owes its name to its "beautiful pebbles", which, due to their quartz predominance, give lean soils. It is precisely this "agrological" poverty, as Professor René Pijassou wrote, that gives them great value for wine production. To the East, the plots occupy Médoc ridges just above the estuary, while those in the epicentre benefit from a microclimate engendered by the small stream of La Mouline, which crosses the appellation in the middle, from west to east, to flow into the Gironde.

Tasting: "The 2018 La Croix de Beaucaillou is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, aged 12 months in two-thirds new barriques. It has a pH of 3.75, 15% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 96. Deep garnet-purple colored, it rolls effortlessly out of the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blueberries, baked plums and blackcurrant cordial with hints of bouquet garni, underbrush, clove oil and cast-iron pan. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing earthy. Not a second wine as such, because it comes from a dedicated part of the vineyard, the blocks for La Croix de Beaucaillou are generally located on the south bank of the La Mouline stream." robertparker.com (31.03.2021)

Service: Serve at room temperature (16-18°C) to accompany a macaron pairing.