La Croix de Beaucaillou 2006

The 2006 Croix de Beaucaillou exhibits slightly herbaceous, sweet cherry and cola notes intermixed with loamy soil and wood nuances. Medium-bodied and tannic, but very good, it will benefit from 1-2 years of cellaring, and should drink well for at least a decade.

Tasted at the château, the 2006 La Croix de Beaucaillou is now fully matured on the nose, but it has surprising intensity with plenty of tar-tinged black fruit, kirsch and roasted herbs. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, well-judged acidity, still quite structured and masculine in style, but with admirable weight on the licorice finish. Give this another couple of years: a bit rustic but deserving attention as it is in that lovely stage between primary and secondary stages.

La Croix now aims to come from a specific terroir. The grapes come from about half of the 75 ha estate - the half further from the Gironde towards a little stream called La Mouline, near Langoa and Léoville Barton.Thick crimson colour. Sweet, mild, well balanced nose. Pretty good and tight. Rather polished and well balanced. Fresh and ripe and the tannins perfectly ripe. Quite a surprise! Very very slightly inky tannins but relatively supple until the very end. Real progress on previous years of this wine. Pretty fine. Congratulations.

Tasted at Ducru Beaucaillou. A pert, Merlot-scented nose, fleshy and expressive with wild strawberry and a touch of red cherry. Has a slight cheesecake note! The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite approachable with rounded red berried fruits and a touch of spice. Lacking a little structure on the mid-palate with plum and raspberry towards the finish. Fine, though lacking some backbone. Tasted April 2007.