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La Croix De Beaucaillou St. Julien Colbert Cuvee 2017 750ml

size
750ml
country
France
region
Bordeaux
appellation
Saint Julien
VM
92
Additional vintages
2019 2018 2017 2016
VM
92
Rated 92 by Vinous Media
The 2017 Cuvée Colbert is a 6,000 bottle production that I have never heard of until it magically appeared at one of my tastings in Bordeaux. It differs from the regular La Croix de Beaucaillou in terms of ageing: matured in a foudres made from ancient oak trees specially sourced from a cooperage. "Colbert" was in fact King Louis XIV's Minister of Finance who administered the planting of vast tracts of France with oak trees, thus sowing the seeds, literally, for the country's barrel industry. It debuted with the 2013 vintage. It has a lovely bouquet with well defined raspberry, wild strawberry, cedar and camphor aromas, the latter becoming stronger with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very gentle and caressing, to the point where it disguises the power and depth on the finish. This is so seductive that you could drink this now, especially due to the seamless finish. Superb. [This cuvée is distributed exclusively by the Duclot négociant.] ... More details
Image of bottle
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La Croix De Beaucaillou St. Julien Colbert Cuvee 2017 750ml

SKU 873068
Case Only Purchase
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$344.40
/case
$57.40
/750ml bottle
Quantity
min order 6 bottles
* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.
Professional Ratings
VM
92
VM
92
Rated 92 by Vinous Media
The 2017 Cuvée Colbert is a 6,000 bottle production that I have never heard of until it magically appeared at one of my tastings in Bordeaux. It differs from the regular La Croix de Beaucaillou in terms of ageing: matured in a foudres made from ancient oak trees specially sourced from a cooperage. "Colbert" was in fact King Louis XIV's Minister of Finance who administered the planting of vast tracts of France with oak trees, thus sowing the seeds, literally, for the country's barrel industry. It debuted with the 2013 vintage. It has a lovely bouquet with well defined raspberry, wild strawberry, cedar and camphor aromas, the latter becoming stronger with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very gentle and caressing, to the point where it disguises the power and depth on the finish. This is so seductive that you could drink this now, especially due to the seamless finish. Superb. [This cuvée is distributed exclusively by the Duclot négociant.]
Winery
The wines of La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou come from the vineyard of Château Ducru-Beaucaillou. This exceptional Médoc terroir is situated between the Gironde River to the east, the centre and the west of the Saint-Julien appellation. The estate owes its name to its “beautiful pebbles” ("beaux cailloux", in French) which, because of their high quartz content, make for soils that are poor in plant nutrients. It is precisely this “agrological” paucity, as the late Bordeaux professor and geographer, René Pijassou, described it, that makes them so well-suited to the production of fine wine. In the east, the plots are planted along the rolling Médoc ridges, just above the estuary, while those at the epicentre benefit from a microclimate nurtured by the little La Mouline stream that meanders through the middle of the appellation from west to east before disappearing into the Gironde.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
France
region
Bordeaux
appellation
Saint Julien
Additional vintages
2019 2018 2017 2016
Overview
The 2017 Cuvée Colbert is a 6,000 bottle production that I have never heard of until it magically appeared at one of my tastings in Bordeaux. It differs from the regular La Croix de Beaucaillou in terms of ageing: matured in a foudres made from ancient oak trees specially sourced from a cooperage. "Colbert" was in fact King Louis XIV's Minister of Finance who administered the planting of vast tracts of France with oak trees, thus sowing the seeds, literally, for the country's barrel industry. It debuted with the 2013 vintage. It has a lovely bouquet with well defined raspberry, wild strawberry, cedar and camphor aromas, the latter becoming stronger with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very gentle and caressing, to the point where it disguises the power and depth on the finish. This is so seductive that you could drink this now, especially due to the seamless finish. Superb. [This cuvée is distributed exclusively by the Duclot négociant.]
green grapes

Varietal: Red Bordeaux

The Bordeaux method of blending quality grape varietals is something which has long been imitated and envied around the world. Whilst there are six Bordeaux grape varietals allowed for the production of red wine in this region of France – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Carménere – the most common and widely used combination involves a careful blend of the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, usually with a small percentage of Petit Verdot to boost the overall flavor and balance things out. This process accentuates the finer points of all these varietals, and takes the astringency of one type whilst rounding it out and mellowing it with the light tannins and fleshiness of another. The results are rarely short of spectacular, and are perfect for oak aging, where the flavorful magic of Bordeaux wine making can really take place, and the complex aromas and characteristics can truly come forward.
barrel

Region: Bordeaux

The Bordeaux region of France is possibly the most famous and widely respected wine region in the world. Known primarily for its exceptional blended red wines, made most commonly with Cabernet Sauvigon, Merlot and Petit Verdot grape varietals, it also produces superb dry white wines (both blended and single variety), alongside the highly esteemed sweet wines of Sauternes. All of these wine types use a careful mix of traditional wine-making methods alongside modern techniques, as well as more experimental and unorthodox practices such as turning their grapes over to the noble rot which intensifies the flavors in the sweet wines. Bordeaux benefits greatly from its position amongst wide river basins, and the cooling Atlantic breezes which blow across the rolling vineyards which cover this region.
fields

Country: France

Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.
Customer Reviews
Customer Reviews

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More Details
green grapes

Varietal: Red Bordeaux

The Bordeaux method of blending quality grape varietals is something which has long been imitated and envied around the world. Whilst there are six Bordeaux grape varietals allowed for the production of red wine in this region of France – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Carménere – the most common and widely used combination involves a careful blend of the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, usually with a small percentage of Petit Verdot to boost the overall flavor and balance things out. This process accentuates the finer points of all these varietals, and takes the astringency of one type whilst rounding it out and mellowing it with the light tannins and fleshiness of another. The results are rarely short of spectacular, and are perfect for oak aging, where the flavorful magic of Bordeaux wine making can really take place, and the complex aromas and characteristics can truly come forward.
barrel

Region: Bordeaux

The Bordeaux region of France is possibly the most famous and widely respected wine region in the world. Known primarily for its exceptional blended red wines, made most commonly with Cabernet Sauvigon, Merlot and Petit Verdot grape varietals, it also produces superb dry white wines (both blended and single variety), alongside the highly esteemed sweet wines of Sauternes. All of these wine types use a careful mix of traditional wine-making methods alongside modern techniques, as well as more experimental and unorthodox practices such as turning their grapes over to the noble rot which intensifies the flavors in the sweet wines. Bordeaux benefits greatly from its position amongst wide river basins, and the cooling Atlantic breezes which blow across the rolling vineyards which cover this region.
fields

Country: France

Year in, year out, France enjoys its prestigious reputation as the producer of the finest wines in the world. With a wine making history which spans several thousand years and owes its expertise to the Romans, it comes as little surprise that this most highly esteemed of the Old World wine countries continues to impress and enchant both novices and experts to this day. Despite the rise in quality of wines from neighboring European countries, not to mention the New World, the French wine industry continues to boom, with up to eight billion bottles being produced in recent years. However, France prides itself on always putting quality before quantity, and the wide range in fine produce is a testament to the dedication and knowledge of the wineries across the country. Indeed, from rich and complex reds to light and aromatic white wines, French wines are as varied and interesting as they are enjoyable to drink, making this country a firm favorite for wine lovers across the globe.