Château La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou Saint-Julien 2019

In Short

A full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Saint-Julien with dark cassis, cedar, and mineral depth that opens in bottle until 2040.

Quick Facts

• Region: Saint-Julien, Bordeaux
• Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon blend
• Style: Full-bodied red
• Best For: Cellar, special dinners

Why We Stock It

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a consistently excellent producer in one of Bordeaux's finest communes, and La Croix is a secondary wine that captures the same balance and structure at a friendlier price than the grand vin. The 2019 is drinking well now but will age steadily for two decades, making it useful both for immediate pleasure and for building a cellar.

Tasting Profile

This is a polished, age-worthy Saint-Julien with the mineral precision the appellation is known for.

• Aroma: Cassis and blackcurrant with cedar, graphite, and tobacco leaf
• Palate: Dark fruit concentration, refined tannins, mineral backbone
• Structure & Finish: Medium to full body, structured tannins, long finish with spice and complexity

Winemaking

A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot, vinified and aged in barrel according to the regional tradition that emphasizes fruit structure over new wood extraction.

Serving & Pairing

Serve at 64 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The wine does not need decanting now but will benefit from it if you open it after five years of bottle age. Pair it with grilled lamb, duck with cherry gastrique, or aged cheeses. A simpler match is a well-marbled steak, where the wine's mineral edge and tannin frame the richness without overwhelming it.

The Estate

Château Ducru-Beaucaillou is a classified growth in Saint-Julien with a long history of careful viticulture and traditional winemaking. La Croix is the estate's second wine, made from younger vines and selected parcels, and carries the house style of elegance and balance.

Terroir

Saint-Julien sits on the left bank of the Gironde estuary, where gravel soils and southeast-facing slopes give Cabernet Sauvignon the structure and mineral character that define the appellation. The 2019 vintage in Bordeaux was ripe and balanced, with good concentration and the acidity needed for aging.