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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

This estate, located directly across from Château Beychevelle, was completely taken over by the Maroteaux family, who purchased it in 1988. The wine, produced from plots spread throughout the appellation, requires meticulous blending—a task carried out by a highly skilled team. Its consistency is exemplary, as is that of the second wine, Duluc.

Decanter

About the wine:

One of the vintage’s standout wines, which has impressed on three separate occasions. A fragrant and expressive nose, with lovely notes of black fruit. On the palate, it is supple and lively, silky yet concentrated, displaying great precision and fine elegance, with succulent, juicy acidity. The concentration is undeniable, ripe and intense: the fragrant aromas of blackcurrant and black cherries lend it remarkable structure and tension. Meanwhile, the minty and mineral freshness carries the flavors and brings energy and definition. Excellent balance on the palate, with a beautiful structure and an enticing sensation that emerges once the body settles. Very well-structured, with a beautiful texture and seamless integration of all elements. Exceptional quality and drinkability, with a delicious finish of salt, graphite, and flint that transports you to the estate. Don’t miss out—you’ll regret it. 2.5% Petit Verdot rounds out the blend. pH 3.65. Harvested September 12–24. 60% of the 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 tanks as in 2020, allowing for more precise fermentation. HVE3 certified. Harvested September 12–24. 2028–2049

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

With its Château (Directoire period) and orangery (18th century) featuring clean, simple lines, lovers of neoclassical architecture will be delighted by a visit to this beautiful estate, which rises on the hillside above Beychevelle. Composed of gravel, this terroir is of the highest quality, and its potential for wine production was recognized as early as the late 17th century, when Jean-Baptiste Braneyre purchased the estate. With a 60-hectare vineyard, the estate has been owned by 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:

Located next to Beychevelle, the château was acquired in 1988 by a family-owned group led by Patrick Maroteaux; more than two-thirds of the approximately 50 hectares under cultivation are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon and, in addition to Merlot and Cabernet Franc, include a small amount of Petit Verdot. With the help of the technical director at the time, Philippe Dalhuin, the wines have gained in density and consistency, without ever losing their soul. After leaving for Mouton Rothschild in 2003, Philippe Dalhuin was replaced by Jean-Dominique Videau—who has since kept the focus on quality. New oak 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 estate:

François-Xavier, son of the late Patrick Maroteaux, now runs this remarkable estate. Branaire-Ducru has quietly risen to the top and is now one of the Médoc’s must-visit estates. In recent years, the château has been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Due to the nature of its terroir, Branaire-Ducru cannot produce a wine as full-bodied as those from the three Léovilles; it offers a different style, characterized by greater finesse and suppleness, while aging admirably. The most recent vintages have reached a remarkable level of quality.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Aromas of black currant, aromatic herbs, graphite, tobacco, and subtle hints of orange peel emerge from the 2022 Château Branaire-Ducru. A ripe, concentrated, and perfectly balanced Saint-Julien. With medium-to-full body, 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 vintage 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 the wine:

Black and purple in color. The nose is intense, refined, fruity, subtle, and elegant. Soft on the palate at first, with a smooth mid-palate and a lively flavor, the wine develops into a juicy, flavorful, and even complex finish, where it takes on a superb vibrancy. Dense and velvety texture. A great success.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

A lovely, elegant, bright, and refined nose that offers intensity with finesse, as well as a lovely, very fine and taut texture. Depth and harmony. It features notes of morello cherry, blueberry, and, more subtly, crushed Charlotte strawberries, combined with hints of fresh bilberry, cubeb pepper, and delicate touches of elegant roasted fruit, along with an almost Mediterranean character in certain fruits and a subtle hint of anise. The palate is beautifully structured, delicate, fresh, supple, and airy, offering lovely maturity, a luscious quality, a lovely Mediterranean character in the fruit, depth, elegant darkness, and a lovely, bright, juicy roasted quality. Everything is perfectly balanced. A lovely multi-layered character. A lovely smoothness in the mid-palate. This wine expresses notes of crushed blackberry, elegant roasted strawberry, and a hint of blueberry, combined with touches of fleshy Bigarreau cherry, a hint of crushed raspberry, a subtle, almost mandarin-like note, subtle hints of tobacco, tonka bean/chocolate, and a subtle hint of toast. The tannins are savory, elegant, flavorful, and indulgent. A chalky quality on the finish. Beautiful length.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Elegance, vibrancy, 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. 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 of the finish ensure the wine’s longevity, elevating it to an unprecedented level of quality. Best enjoyed between 2027 and 2060.