2019 Croix de Beaucaillou, St-Julien

This comes from terroir central to the St Julien appellation, west of the grand vin parcels, and in 2019 the assemblage is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and 4% Petit Verdot. It rested twelve months in barrel, using 60% new oak. A beautifully fragrant nose, filled with perfumed chalk, scented oak, precisely defined black fruits led by blackcurrant, blackberry, damson and liquorice, lifted by a fresh and floral, white-freesia elegance. This is impressive on the palate, with an immediate texture, but with a ripe and dense grip of tannins as well. The fruit opens out to reveal currants, dried black cherries and black olives, with a frame of ripe, cleanly polished and tightly knit tannins. A very harmonious and complete style, with great substance for the cellar.

The second wine of this great château is the 2019 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou, which is 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new barrels. It fits into the lineup beautifully and sits nicely between the Le Petit Ducru and the Grand Vin. Deep purple-hued, with full-bodied aromas and flavors of pure cassis, crushed stone, graphite, lead pencil, and smoked tobacco, it has building yet fine tannins, flawless balance, and a great finish. It shows the more regal, classy, elegant, yet still concentrated style of this vintage perfectly. Give bottles a healthy decant if drinking any time soon, and it will have upwards of two decades of prime drinking.