Château Branaire-Ducru Saint-Julien 2022 - 4ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This vineyard, located just opposite Château Beychevelle, was completely taken over by the Maroteaux family, who bought it in 1988. The wine, produced from plots spread across the entire appellation, requires rigorous blending, which is achieved by a highly skilled team. Its consistency is exemplary, as is that of the second wine, Duluc.

Decanter

About wine:

One of the vintage's flagship wines, which impressed on three occasions. A fragrant and expressive nose with beautiful aromas of black fruit. Supple and lively on the palate, silky yet concentrated, with great precision and finesse, and succulent, juicy acidity. The concentration is undeniable, ripe and intense: the fragrant aromas of blackcurrant and black cherries give it remarkable structure and tension. Meanwhile, the minty, mineral freshness carries the flavors and brings energy and definition. Excellent balance on the palate, with beautiful structure and an enticing sensation that comes through once the substance has settled. Very well constructed, with a beautiful texture and overall integration of all the elements. Exceptional quality and drinkability, with a delicious salty, graphite and flint finish that transports you to the estate. Don't miss out, you'll regret it. 2.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. pH 3.65. Harvested from September 12 to 24. 60% of production is grand vin. Yield of 34 hl/ha. Tasted three times. This vintage was the first to be produced entirely in the new cellar, which has twice as many vats as in 2020, allowing for more precise fermentation. HVE3 certified. Harvested from September 12 to 24. 2028-2049

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

With its sleek lines, the château (Directoire period) and orangery (18th century) will delight lovers of neoclassical architecture. This beautiful complex stands on the hillside above Beychevelle. Composed of gravel, this is a terroir of choice, whose viticultural interest was recognized as early as the end of the 17th century, when Jean-Baptiste Braneyre purchased the estate. With a 60-hectare vineyard, the estate has belonged to the Maroteaux family since 1988, who have made significant investments to restore the property to its former glory.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

Neighboring Beychevelle, the château was purchased in 1988 by a family group led by Patrick Maroteaux. More than two-thirds of the fifty hectares under cultivation are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, and in addition to Merlot and Cabernet Franc, there is also a small amount of Petit Verdot. With the help of the technical director at the time, Philippe Dalhuin, the wines gained in density and consistency, without ever losing their soul. Philippe Dalhuin left for Mouton Rothschild in 2003 and was replaced by Jean-Dominique Videau, who has since maintained the focus on quality. New oak, in particular, is always used with restraint.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

François-Xavier, son of the late Patrick Maroteaux, now runs this admirable estate. Branaire-Ducru has quietly risen to the top and is now one of the Médoc's must-see properties. In recent years, the château has benefited from state-of-the-art technical equipment. Due to the nature of its terroir, Branaire-Ducru cannot produce wines as full-bodied as those produced by the three Léovilles; it plays on a different register, with more finesse and suppleness, while aging admirably. The latest vintages have reached a remarkable level.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

Aromas of blackcurrant, aromatic herbs, graphite, tobacco, and subtle hints of orange peel emerge from Château Branaire-Ducru 2022. A ripe, concentrated and perfectly balanced Saint-Julien. With medium to full-bodied richness, a concentrated and complex palate, and plenty of tannins. This is another must-have wine from the 2022 vintage that readers will love to have in their cellars. This 2022 is composed of 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, and the remainder Petit Verdot, aged for 18 months in oak barrels. 2032-2062

Jean-Marc Quarin

About wine:

Black and purple color. Intense, refined, fruity, subtle, and noble nose. Soft on the palate, smooth in the middle, with a bright flavor, the wine develops into a juicy, flavorful, and even complex finish, gaining a superb brightness. Dense and mellow profile. A great success.

Vert de Vin

About wine:

A lovely, elegant, bright, racy nose offering intense finesse and a beautiful, very fine, taut texture. Depth and harmony. Notes of morello cherry, blueberry and, more subtly, crushed Charlotte strawberry combine with hints of fresh blueberry, cubeb pepper and delicate touches of elegant roasted fruit, with an almost Mediterranean aspect to certain fruits and a discreet hint of aniseed. The palate is beautifully executed, delicate, fresh, supple, airy, and offers beautiful maturity, pulpiness, a lovely Mediterranean aspect to the fruit, depth, elegant darkness, and a lovely roasted, bright, juicy aspect. Everything is just right. A lovely multi-layered aspect. Lovely mellowness in the mid-palate. This wine expresses notes of crushed blackberry, elegant roasted strawberry and, more subtly, blueberry, combined with hints of fleshy Bigarreau cherry, a hint of crushed raspberry and a subtle hint of mandarin, subtle hints of tobacco, tonka bean/chocolate and a subtle hint of toast. The tannins are sapid, elegant, flavorful, and indulgent. A chalky finish. Beautiful persistence.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

Elegance, liveliness, and purity are at the heart of this exceptional gem. In contention for the title of best vintage ever produced by Branaire Ducru, it is easy to understand why as soon as you open the bottle. With a deep color, the wine offers a floral bouquet before revealing a blend of dark red fruits, spices, mocha, nutmeg, vanilla, and black cherries. The palate is even more impressive with its refined, creamy and spectacular profile and the purity of its fruit. The concentration, length and liveliness on the finish allow the wine to linger, reaching an unprecedented level of quality. Best enjoyed between 2027 and 2060.