Dark berries, iron and hints of rust with some iodine. Full-bodied, round and juicy with a solid backbone of tannins and focus. This second wine of Ducru-Beaucaillou. Polished. Drink in 2021.

The always-reliable second wine of Ducru Beaucaillou, the Croix shows the same purity and polish as its big brother – and boasts packaging designed by Jade Jagger. Lovely engaging nose with attractive mineral, oyster shell character and ripe red and black fruit. Complex. Supple and fleshy. Lovely rich, ripe black cherry and plum notes with a good structure and vibrancy. (52% Caberent Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot.)

The 2015 La Croix de Beaucaillou is a blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. It has a floral note on the nose: small black cherries, blueberry and wilted violets, the last becoming more intense as the initially tight-fisted wine opens in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannin. There is very well-judged acidity and its texture is harmonious and silky smooth. The quality is loaded more in the mouth than on the nose at the moment, but it is a seriously classy "deuxième vin" that just needs a little more persistence on the finish.

– eRobertParker.com, April 2016

Savoury nose - really racy. Very fresh and sinewy. Racy and polished. Dry finish. But pretty sweet fruit in the middle. This 'second wine' showed extremely well even next to the grand vin, but presumably will not last as long. 13.53%. Drink 2022-2034.

– jancisrobinson.com, Apr 2016