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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

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

Decanter

About the wine:

One of the standout wines of the vintage, which has impressed on three separate occasions. A fragrant and expressive nose, with lovely notes of black fruit. The palate is supple and lively, silky yet concentrated, displaying great precision and finesse, with succulent, juicy acidity. The concentration is undeniable, ripe and intense: fragrant aromas of blackcurrant and black cherries give 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 beautiful structure and an enticing sensation that emerges once the wine settles. Very well-structured, with a beautiful texture and seamless integration of all elements. Exceptional quality and drinkability, with a delicious salty, graphite, and flinty finish 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 production is grand vin. Yield of 34 hl/ha. Tasted 3 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 complex, which stands on the hillside above Beychevelle. Composed of gravel, this is a prime terroir, whose potential for viticulture was recognized as early as the late 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:

Located next to Beychevelle, the château was purchased 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, the vineyard includes 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. Having left for Mouton Rothschild in 2003, Philippe Dalhuin was replaced by Jean-Dominique Videau—who has since kept the focus on quality. New oak, in particular, is 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 admirable 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 plays on a different register, offering more finesse and suppleness, while aging admirably. The latest 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 the 2022 Château Branaire-Ducru. 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 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:

Deep 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 vibrant flavor, the wine develops into a juicy, flavorful, and even complex finish, where it gains 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 beautiful, 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 blueberry, cubeb pepper, and delicate touches of elegant roasted fruit, an almost Mediterranean quality in certain fruits, and a subtle hint of anise. The palate is beautifully executed, delicate, fresh, supple, and airy, offering lovely maturity, richness, a lovely Mediterranean fruit character, depth, elegant darkness, and a lovely bright, juicy roasted quality. Everything is perfectly balanced. A lovely multi-layered character. A lovely softness 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 and tonka bean/chocolate, and a subtle hint of toast. The tannins are savory, elegant, flavorful, and rich. A chalky quality on the finish. Beautiful length.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Elegance, liveliness, 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 the bottle is uncorked. 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 allow the wine to linger, reaching an unprecedented level of quality. Best enjoyed between 2027 and 2060.