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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

This cru, located just opposite Château Beychevelle, has been completely taken over by the Maroteaux family, who bought it in 1988. The wine, made from parcels spread over the entire appellation, requires rigorous blending, and a highly competent team. Its consistency is to be commended, as is that of the second wine, duluc.

Decanter

About the wine:

One of the leading wines of the vintage, impressing on 3 occasions. Fragrant, expressive nose, with lovely black fruit aromas. Supple and lively on the palate, silky yet concentrated, with great precision and finesse, and succulent, juicy acidity. Concentration is undeniable, ripe and intense: fragrant aromas of blackcurrant and black cherry give it remarkable structure and tension. While the minty, mineral freshness carries the flavors and brings energy and definition. Excellent balance on the palate, with good structure and a mouth-watering sensation once the substance has settled. Very well constructed, with a lovely texture and overall integration of all the elements. Exceptional quality and drinkability, with a deliciously salty, graphite and flinty finish that transports you back to the estate. Don't miss out, you'll regret it. 2.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. pH 3.65. Harvest from September 12 to 24. 60% grand vin production. Yield 34 hl/ha. Tasted 3 times. This vintage was the first to be made entirely in the new winery, which has twice as many vats as in 2020, for more precise fermentations. HVE3 certified. Harvest from September 12 to 24. 2028-2049

Guide Hachette des vins

About the domain :

Château (Directoire) and orangery (18th c.) with their pure lines, lovers of neo-classical architecture will be delighted by a visit to this beautiful estate, which rises on the hillside above Beychevelle. Composed of gravel, this is a choice terroir, whose viticultural interest was first recognized at the end of the 17th century, when Jean-Baptiste Braneyre bought the estate. Since 1988, the 60-hectare vineyard has belonged to the Maroteaux family, who have invested heavily to restore the estate to its former glory.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the domain :

A neighbor of Beychevelle, the château was bought in 1988 by a family group headed by Patrick Maroteaux; more than two-thirds of the 50 hectares planted are Cabernet Sauvignon and, in addition to Merlot and Cabernet Franc, some Petit Verdot. With the help of then technical director Philippe Dalhuin, the wines have become denser and more consistent, without ever losing their soul. Philippe Dalhuin left for Mouton Rothschild in 2003, and was replaced by Jean-Dominique Videau, who has maintained his focus on quality ever since. New barrels, in particular, are always used sparingly.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the domain :

François-Xavier, son of the late Patrick Maroteaux, is now at the helm of this admirable estate. Branaire-Ducru has quietly climbed to the top and is now one of the Médoc's leading estates. In recent years, the château has benefited from first-rate technical equipment. Due to the nature of its terroir, Branaire-Ducru cannot produce a wine as full-bodied as those produced by the three Léovilles; it plays on a different register, with more finesse and suppleness, while ageing admirably. Recent vintages have reached a remarkable level.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the 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, complex palate and plenty of tannin. This is another must-have wine from the 2022 vintage, which 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 rest Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in oak barrels. 2032-2062

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Black and purple color. Intense, fine, fruity, subtle and noble nose. Smooth on entry, mellow in the middle, with brightness of flavor, the wine evolves juicy, savory and even complex on the finish, when it gains superb brightness. Dense, melting profile. A great success.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

Lovely, elegant, brilliant, racy nose, offering intensity and finesse, with a fine, taut texture. Depth and harmony. Notes of Morello cherry, blueberry and, to a lesser extent, crushed Charlotte strawberry are combined with hints of fresh blueberry, cubeb pepper and fine hints of roasted-elegant fruit, an almost Mediterranean feel to certain fruits and a discreet hint of aniseed. The palate is nicely structured, delicate, fresh, supple and airy, offering ripeness, pulpiness, Mediterranean fruit, depth, elegant blackness and a roasted, shiny, juicy edge. Just right. A lovely multi-layered side. Nice mellowness on the mid-palate. This wine expresses notes of crushed blackberry, roasted-elegant strawberry and, more lightly, blueberry, combined with touches of fleshy Bigarreau cherry, a hint of crushed raspberry and a discreet, almost tangerine-like touch, discreet hints of tobacco, tonka bean/chocolate and a subtle hint of toastiness. The tannins are sapid, elegant, tasty and greedy. A chalky finish. Good persistence.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Elegance, vivacity and purity are at the heart of this exceptional gem. A contender for the title of best vintage ever produced by Branaire Ducru, it's easy to see why as soon as you uncork the bottle. Deeply colored, 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, spectacular profile and purity of fruit. Concentration, length and liveliness on the finish allow the wine to persist. It reaches an unprecedented level of quality. To be enjoyed between 2027 and 2060.