La Croix de Beaucaillou, St Julien, 2016
Bruno Borie refers to 2016 as a 'biblical vintage'. He explained that they had the 'flood', the 'plagues of Egypt', a time in the 'wilderness' and then the 'road to Jerusalem'. Rather surprisingly he didn't mention 'sacrifice' a term that propriétaires like to use when talking about yields... Again, as with the Lalande Borie, Croix is much more black fruited and structured than its predecessor. Intense notes of liquorice, clove, black forest fruits and gravel emerge from the glass. This is glossy, sleek and structured with a deep core of gravelly fruit. Again, one for the cellar. Produced from 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot.
critic reviews
The 2016 Croix de Beaucaillou has a very attractive bouquet of high-toned but controlled blackberry and blueberry fruit neatly enmeshed with some quality new oak. The medium-bodied palate delivers fine-boned tannins, well-judged acidity and a silky-smooth, sensual finish that lingers long in the mouth. This is a very impressive 2016. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting.
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2016 La Croix de Beaucaillou gives up aromas of cassis, earth, black plums, black cherries and mulberries with wafts of menthol, cigars and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is lively and earthy with firm, grainy tannins, finishing long and mineral-laced.