La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou 2018

飲10年前釀的呢款酒會同今日唔同，因為目前葡萄樹去到34年，每顆樹出產更少，在加上高密度的種植法(10,000株/公頃)，迫使葡萄藤根部需要互相競爭並深根入地來吸取營養，產出風味濃縮的果實。

二級莊寶嘉龍 Ducru Beaucaillou副牌 (一般大家都會叫呢支係副牌)，不過又咁講: 寶嘉龍 對呢支酒的定義與眾不同，因為葡萄采收自酒莊內指定的地塊(並不是正牌揀剩下的葡萄釀造)。於1995年開始在Château Ducru-Beaucaillou 裝瓶，其品質足以與旗艦酒款媲美，不過酒莊希望呈現的則是一支透過調配，能更早讓飲家享受到St. Julien 絕美佳釀。酒莊咁樣形容支酒:"Powerful, silky

Blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), supplemented by Merlot (35%) and Petit Verdot (3%). The Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou 2018 is matured for 12 months in Bordeaux barrels of 225 litres, 60% of which are of new wood and 40% of one previous wine.

 92 pts Wine Advocate : 

 This is not a second wine as such, because it comes from a dedicated part of the vineyard, located on the south bank of La Mouline. The 2018 La Croix de Beaucaillou is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, to be aged 12 months in 60% new barriques. It has a pH of 3.75, 15% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 96. Deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little closed and broody to begin, offering subtle notions of fertile loam, tobacco, truffles and cast iron pan with a core of crème de cassis, blackberry compote and boysenberries with hints of underbrush and bay leaves. Full, rich and seductive in the mouth, it has firm, rounded tannins and just enough freshness to lift the dense fruit to a long finish.