1996 Château Ducru-Beaucaillou Croix de Beaucaillou, France, Bordeaux, Saint Julian, Wine Review

It had been a long time since I tried this one.  Back in the day, the Croix seemed like the "best" second label (although I haven't kept up with all the new releases).  At age 30, this seemed like it was doing well.  Purple in color with slight ruby  hues and just a hint of browning, opaque but a bit flat.  The nose is very nice with cassis, fruitcake, leather, dust and some earthiness.  Tannins are resolved.  Good balance.  On the palate, this has depth and some complexity.  Flavors of spice, cassis, dried fruits and a bit of earthiness.  Good finish.  While this seemed past prime, it still has a lot going on as a mature wine.  Probably more interesting on its own but would work nicely with a steak or other fatty meats.  Drink up.