La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou 2024 en Primeur

Very pure and minerally, with good depth of fruit, fresh dark cherries and berries. Almost full-bodied, with lots of fine-grained tannins that get chalky. Structured and quite long. A good, dense expression from the vintage. 65% merlot, 32% cabernet sauvignon and 3% petit verdot.

Epatant par son éclat, ses notes épicées et de cèdre, sa tenue en bouche et sa promesse de garde. Un des sommets de sa catégorie.

Très belle signature des vignobles Borie au travers de ce vin plein, doté d’une matière soyeuse, avec des notes de fruits rouges et noirs juteux, apportées par de beaux merlots. Il persiste longuement. (Olivier Poels)

Vanilla, raspberry and cherry, some perfumed notes with floral accents. Deep, vivid purple colour. Tangy and crisp, this has more minerality straight away, a touch of chalky, salty tannins gives the mouthfeel with cool blue fruit underneath. This has the structure, needs to broaden slightly but there's a good definition. Mouthwatering acidity, this will be enjoyable to drink early on. A touch of bitter spice - orange rind, dark chocolate and tobacco on the finish. Graphite too. Definitely lean but this has some joyful fruit to balance the strictness. Starting to be elegant, and relaxed. 3.7pH. (Gerorgina Hindle)

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, delicate edge brightening. Tobacco, nuances of red forest berries, a hint of orange zest, with fresh cherry in the background. Good complexity, blackberry confit, fresh acidity, ripe tannins, lingers, salty aftertaste, black cherry on the finish. (Peter Moser)

The 2024 La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou matured in two-thirds new oak this year, the usual percentage. It has a precise bouquet with blackberry, wild strawberry and background slate-like aromas. This is finely focused, though more understated than recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied and quite peppery, with grainy tannins, gentle grip and a slightly stony finish. This is a more linear and classically styled Deuxième Vin that will deserve two or three years in bottle. (Neal Martin)

Saturated purple colour and fruity floral aromas. Intense and juicy with plenty of freshness and bright vivid tannins and fruit. No oak yet but very little of the stereotype of the vintage. If there's one place that can afford to cope with a little less exuberance, then it is Ducru Beaucaillou, and it has certainly worked in this wine.