Antonio Galloni The 2014 Croix de Beaucaillou is a dark, voluptuous

Antonio Galloni
90-93
The 2014 Croix de Beaucaillou is a dark, voluptuous beauty. Juicy black cherries, smoke,
violets, crème de cassis and new leather are some of the many notes that wrap around the
palate, leading to a deep, inky finish laced with purplish-hued fruits. Juicy and extroverted to
the core, the 2014 is likely to reward consumers with considerable immediate pleasure. The
creamy finish alone is incredibly inviting. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot
and 5% Petit Verdot.
Tasting date: April 2015
Jeff Leve
90-92
Smoky, spicy and sweet, this smooth, fresh wine is packed with dark berries, a sprig of thyme
and soft tannins. The wine will show well young or it can age for a decade. From a blend of
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 13.25% alcohol
and is aging in 60% new French oak barrels.
Tasted Apr 16, 2015
René Gabriel
17/20
Dunkles Granat, recht satt in der Mitte, rubiner Rand. Fein süssliche Kirschennote, ein Hauch
Milchkaffee und Zedernnuancen, gibt sich zart füllig und vielschichtig. Tänzerischer Gaumen,
zart stützende Tannine, wunderschöne Länge. Ein musisches Ducru-Kreuz (Coix = Kreuz).
Grenat sombre, parfaite plénitude en son milieu, rubis en bordure. Note de cerise finement
sucrée, un soupçon de café au lait et des nuances de cèdre, se montre tendrement rond et
complexe.
Palais en émoi (littéralement "qui danse"), légers supports tanniques, merveilleuse longueur.
Un Ducru-Croix de grand art.
April 2015
Steven Spurrier
17/20 (90)
Well-concentrated, rich fruit with florality and charm from vineyards in the middle of the
appellation. No longer a 'second' wine.
April 2015
Bettane et Desseauve
17,5/20 (94)
Si la bouteille confirme il rivalisera en finesse, distinction et longévité probable avec tous les
premiers vins des crus classés du secteur.
April 2015
17/20
Jancis Robinson
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot. Repositioning of this wine with the
Jade Jagger label. They are going to call it Réserve because it’s a specific plot. 12 months in
barrel with two-thirds new. This is the final blend. Picked 5-15 October.
Mid crimson. Very fragrant and polished with freshness and a strong savoury edge. Some
tobacco leaves. Meaty and yet with enough juice and well-controlled acidity. A little tough
on the end now but good acid/fruit balance.
April 2015
90
Markus Del Monego
Dark purple red with violet hue and almost black centre. Quite closed character, opening up
slowly with some oxygen, blackcurrants, blackberries, discreet spicyness and hints of toasted
flavours. On the palate well structured with freshness, elegant fruit, good weight and length.
April 2015
Roger Voss
94
This wine is powerful in dark tannins that surround the ripe plum and damson plum notes. It
is rich and concentrated, yet juicy in acidity. The structured tannins and acidity promise
successful long-term aging.
(4/1/2015)
Jeannie Cho Lee
91
Dark, earthy fruit with a hint of violets, blackberry and roasted herbs. Intense, fairly
concentrated Croix de Beaucaillou with deep flavors that sould age beautifully.
Chris Kissack
15-16/20
Croix de Beaucaillou (St Julien) 2014: A second label from Ducru-Beaucaillou, although it is a
sélection parcellaire rather than a true second wine. From vines sitting between GruaudLarose and Léoville-Barton, this is Cabernet Sauvignon 60%, Merlot 35% and Petit Verdot 5%.
Alcohol 13.25%, acidity 3.59 g/l, IPT 78. This will see 12 months in 66% new oak. Rather
more restrained on the nose than the Lalande-Borie tasted alongside, with some dark, lightly
desiccated plum skins. It is certainly savoury rather than sweet. The palate is deliciously
balanced, fresh, with a very appealing supple substance of black cherry and plum, draped
over a ripe tannin core, showing good backbone, and with fresh, vibrant acidity. This is
confident, nicely filled out on the palate, balanced too, with a very fine, wild-fruit
complexity.
April 2015
James Suckling
92-93
Sweet tobacco, dried seaweed and blackcurrants. Full body, velvety textured tannins and an
intense finish. Muscular and serious.
March 2015
Neal Martin
90-92
The La Croix de Beaucaillou 2014 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 5%
Petit Verdot that is raised in 60% new oak. This needs a few minutes to settle down in the
glass, which is no problem since Bruno and I always have a good natter about the vintage.
There is a sense of nonchalance on the nose, nothing too extravagant, quite “contained”
compared to recent vintages but clearly with good concentration that will be more evident
post-bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with dense tannin, a little powdery in texture,
but I like the symmetry and focus defining the finish. Great potential, though it will require 4
to 5 years to fully assimilate that new oak.
April 2015
beckustator.com
Yves Beck
91-93
Pourpre violet. Bouquet complexe, de bonne intensité. Notes de poivre noir, graphite, cèdre
cerise et cassis. Attaque fruitée et minérale. Corps de type crémeux, juteux et rafraîchissant.
Il va encore gagner en densité durant l’élevage et est très prometteur avec une structure
acide qui guide idéalement le fruit, jusqu’en finale. Les tannins sont en retrait mais ont
suffisamment de matière pour assumer et assurer l’avenir. A suivre. 2020-2034.
May 2015
Bernard Burtschy
17/20
La robe est sombre et le nez est dense, épicé. Un vin compact, ferme, tannique. Un vin à part
entière, un vin sérieux. 60% de cabernet-sauvignon, 30% de merlot, 5% de petit-verdot. 5-15
ans.
Mai 2015