France

Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot

Cabernet Franc

Petit Verdot

Ch. Branaire-Ducru

Chateau Branaire-Ducru 4eme Cru Classe Saint-Julien

Bordeaux

Saint-Julien

The 2022 Branaire-Ducru is made from 60.5% CS, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.5% Petit Verdot with a yield of 34.5 hl/ha. Deep garnet-purple in color, it gallops out of the glass with energetic notes of crushed blackcurrants, fresh blackberries, and juicy plums, plus suggestions of clove oil, fertile loam, and dried lavender. The medium to full-bodied palate has a lot of elegance and finesse for its density and hefty weight, featuring lively black fruit layers and an approachable, grainy texture, finishing on a mineral note. Nicely done! The pH is 3.65.

by Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW

This is an estate that can be so understated as to almost miss its complexity, but this vintage, with its excess and exuberance, does a wonderful job of drawing it out. The concentration is impressive, but there you'll also find a softness and balance that is juicy and enticing. Great job Branaire Ducru. Francois Xavier Maroteaux owner. I honestly think the best example of this château that I have ever tasted En Primeur (and god I hate it when critics say that).

Inside Bordeaux

Expert

Lovely bright plum colour, slim blue and black fruits, coffee bean and cedar oak notes, carefully constructed with balance, a little short on the finish compared to the excellent recent vintages at Branaire. 55% new oak. 41.5 hl/ha, this is the first vintage with the new cellars, François-Xavier Maroteaux owner and new president of the Union de Grands Crus de Bordeaux.  

The 2023 Branaire-Ducru is deep garnet-purple in color. It reveals fragrant scents of crushed blackcurrants, Morello cherries, and lavender oil, giving way to hints of graphite, tar, and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate delivers a good amount of black berry flavors, with savory accents and ripe, grainy tannins to support, finishing with an herbal lift.

The 2021 Branaire-Ducru is deep garnet-purple in color. It needs a lot of coaxing to reveal notes of fresh blackberries, blackcurrants, and pencil shavings, plus hints of bay leaves and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate has a sturdy frame with grainy tannins and compelling tension, finishing on a savory note.

The 2020 Branaire-Ducru is deep garnet-purple in color. Pure scents of blackcurrant jelly, crushed black plums, and Bing cherries spring from the glass, leading to nuances of bay leaves, graphite, black olives, and cedar. The medium-bodied palate is taut and muscular, delivering crunchy black and red fruit layers with a fine-grained texture and bags of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

One of the more discreet St Juliens, undergoing a great resurgence right now, and this stands out for its quality and value. Tobacco leaf, baked earth, crushed rocks, crayon and mint leaf set against blueberry and cassis fruits. Balanced, with the finesse of the appellation. Ideally this is put away for another four years or so, but it has the delicacy that makes it just about approachable if you can't wait. I drank it with friends a few months ago, and nobody was complaining. 43hl/h yield.

Bordeaux- messe 2023. Ingen notat. 92p

Bordeaux- messe 2024. Ingen notat. 91p


Amatør

The 2013 Branaire-Ducru is medium garnet in color, with a touch of brick. It offers fragrant notes of redcurrant jelly, dried mulberries, and fruitcake, with hints of dried roses, star anise, and fallen leaves. The medium-bodied palate features vibrant red berry and floral layers, with a lively backbone and grainy tannins, finishing with a real skip in its step.

The 2012 Branaire-Ducru is medium to deep garnet colored. It opens with notes of dried Provence herbs, damp soil, and tapenade over a core of redcurrant jelly and plum preserves. The medium-bodied palate delivers youthful black fruits with a fine-grained texture and just enough freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.

Mørke bør, tørket frukt, blyantspiss, sopp 
Ok minus syre, mørke bør, modne tanniner

WSET 2

Akkurat i dag drikker denne som en kule. Perfekt balanse og lang delikat ettersmak. Fargen er fortsatt purpur ! Duften er perfekt med flott balanse mellom primær, sekundær og tertiære aromaer. En super deilig vin

WSET Diploma

Ruby red. Exotic nose with floral tones, blueberries, blackcurrant, cassis and spice. Fresh acidity. Vibrant and playful with cruched cherries, licorice, blueberries, minerals and light toast. Balanced with tannins that are starting to integrated. Long

Still young and in an early stage of development. Next bottle in 5 years or have it with a good steak?

Amateur

Served blind, successfully fooling me into thinking it was a 1998 vintage from St Julien, given its extremely lively and potent character.⁠
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The colour hinted at its age, displaying a saturated ruby that faded towards the mahogany rim. A delightful mix of black cherries, blackcurrant, smoke, earth, cigar smoke, flint, graphite, damp earth, and underbrush contributed to the aromatic complexity.⁠
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Contrary to expectations, the palate revealed a wine much younger than anticipated. It presented a lovely combination of spiced blackcurrants and blueberries seasoned with flint and earth, accompanied by underbrush, fish oil, smoke, and medicinal herbs. A delightful note of raspberry confiture added pleasant freshness.⁠
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The plush and almost resolved tannins were lifted by a very energetic and bright, graphite-infused acidity. This provided a refreshing lift, especially at the back palate, leaving the mouth refreshed and ready for another sip.

Fine wine advisor

Transparent brown orange with an orange rim. Sweet and exotic nose with figs, dates, leather and tobacco. Fresh acidity. Lean and sweet pipe tobacco, leather, cedar wood and dried fruits. Balanced with integrated supple tannins. Long with a sweet finish.

Just lovely to taste this mature and sublime red Bordeaux.

When a wine really surprices you in a good way! I guess most of you have had your ups and downs when it comes to wines. The 1967 vintage was not great when it comes to red Bordeaux (Sauternes was great in 67). However you always find some gems. This was one of them!

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Ch. Branaire-Ducru
Vintages	2022
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Julien
Bottle	75 cl

Alcohol	%
Acid	%
Sugar	g/l

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