France

Chateau La Bridane

Chateau La Bridane Saint-Julien

Bordeaux

Saint-Julien

Well located in the heart of St Julien with plenty of well-drained gravel soils. Subtle waves of floral Cabernet aromatics, black fruits, pureed bilberry, a little abrupt on the finish but this does a good job in the vintage, reflects well on their winemaking and location. Harvest 28 September to 6 October. Famille Saintout, Antoine Medeville consultant. 

Inside Bordeaux

Cheerful, unfussy, plenty of fresh acidities, majors on fragrant tomato leaf and raspberry leaf, with blueberry, bilberry, and touches of smoky campfire and baked earth, easy to enjoy, no need to wait, but has the balanced tannins of St Julien.

Bright and deep plum in colour, clear phenolic extraction. Love how silky the tannins are, and also how some earthy notes stop things getting overly sweet despite the ripeness of the blackberry and cassis puree fruit notes. A lovely slice of St Juien that manages to retain appellation character even in the extreme conditions of the vintage. Fresh of heat but it hides it well, and this has balance. Value in this starry part of the Médoc peninsula. Harvest from September 15 to October 4. Antoine Medeville consultant, Noëlie and Pierre Saintout now joined their father Bruno in running the estate.

After ageing, this remains an enjoyable if slightly austere St Julien, with an unfusrry earthiness but plenty of autumnal hedgerow fruit, and a kick of fennel and smoked black tea. One of the very few independent producers left in St Julien, 12ha, owner Bruno Saintout, now joined by his son and daughter. 5% thermo vinification on the Cabernet Sauvignon. Gravel soils, classic St Julien, made in a cellar that was renewwed 4 years ago.

Old school St Julien, vanishingly rare, and one to be treasured. It's rarely at the heights of the best in the appellation but in years like 2020 when there is plenty of potential, it's one to seek out. Some gunsmoke oak influence, a little over-played perhaps, but with unfussy raspberry and blackberry fruits, firm tannins and an attractive liqourice edge. Owner Bruno Saintout, 15ha of prime St Julien clay-gravels.

The 2019 vintage is excellent in St Julien, making the smaller names really worth seeking out. This one, owned by Bruno Saintout, is a case in point - tight structure, needs a few years to unwind, but there is an unfussy sappy quality to the tannins with sparks of oyster shell and liquorice root running through the savoury blackcurrant fruits. A fragrant tobacco leaf finish gives an extra layer of interest.

2024	No priceNot available	Very Good
2023	No priceNot available	Very Good
2022	No priceNot available	Outstanding
2021	No priceNot available	Excellent
2020	No priceNot available	Excellent

Category	Red wine
Vinmonopolet no.
Producer	Chateau La Bridane
Vintages	2024
Country	France, Bordeaux, Saint-Julien
Bottle	75 cl

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