Chateau Branaire-Ducru 2019

An immensely seductive, fruity-floral bouquet; a silky attack, an elegant yet firm, sinewy evolution on class‑act tannins, with tension and length; an exquisite wine, a must.

Leads with vivid violet and cassis, while dark plum, blackberry and boysenberry reduction notes follow quickly. Racy, structured and well-built, with graphite and apple wood driving through the finish. Very pure and aromatic, featuring a nice sanguine echo that lingers at the very end. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2038. 13,000 cases made, 1,950 cases imported.

Lifted floral notes are combined with dark currant fruit flavour and fine tannins on the palate. A very elegant Branaire-Ducru and relatively restrained in the context of 2019. Will appeal to those who prefer the more subtle style of Bordeaux, with more nuance than up-front power and weight. The fruit is clean and pure, and there is a lovely freshness on the finish. Good mid-term drinking.

Very clear fruit character of blackcurrants, orange peel and spices. Some walnut, too. It’s full-bodied with integrated, polished tannins and shows finesse and focus. Love the focused fruit at the end of this. Strength with finesse. Give it four to five years of bottle age. Try after 2024.

The 2019 Branaire-Ducru is rich, layered and sumptuous. Black cherry, licorice, spice, leather, tobacco and tar build effortlessly in the glass. The 2019 impresses with its density and pure power, which makes it perhaps atypical for Branaire by its historic standards, but it may be the direction the château seems to be headed in. The aromatics are a bit closed right now, but time in bottle should help take care of that.

Opening with a strong sense of florality, the wine quickly moves to tobacco leaf, red currants, mocha and cassis on the nose. On the palate, the wine is elegant, fresh, soft and polished, with silky tannins and a palate filled with sweet, ripe, elegant, black plums and currants with a touch of cocoa at the end in the finish. This is a fabulous vintage for Branaire Ducru. Drink from 2027-2055.

Dark ruby, opaque core, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Delicate notes of liquorice, wild blackberries, some leather and nougat, inviting bouquet. Juicy, fine red cherry fruit, silky tannins, fresh acidity, subtle fruit on the finish, lively, delicate style, ready to drink soon and yet with some ageing potential.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 13.7% alc./vol., production 180,000 bottles) Velvety, sweet, fruity bouquet, damsons, plums, wood, coffee beans. Finely bitter palate with good fruit, fine sandy tannins, medium aromatics, classic structure, finely dry finish.

(56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 13.7% alc./vol., production 180,000 bottles) Silky, sweet, fruity bouquet: damsons, plums, wood, coffee beans. Lightly bitter palate with good fruit, fine sandy tannins, medium aromatics, classic structure, delicately dry finish. 17/20 2024 - 2038

The 2019 Branaire-Ducru is a blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it flies out of the glass with notes of crushed blackcurrants, black cherries, and stewed plums, plus wafts of rose oil, cinnamon toast, and fragrant earth. The medium-bodied palate is juicy and plush, with lively acidity and a spicy finish.

With a very fine sapidity on the finish, it is racy and indulgent. The fruit remains juicy, with a lovely mid-palate presence, and the finish lingers at length. Very promising and a safe bet for cellaring.

Subtle on the nose, a wine that, as it opens with aeration, reveals oriental notes of spice and pomegranate, evoking a sumptuous Moroccan lounge draped in velvet. On the palate, a fluid, finely velvety texture that concludes with a finish as delicate as it is delicious, for an ensemble that is both earthy and airy.

At Branaire, they have a keen sense of detail and delicacy! In this vein, the bouquet is filigreed, subtle and precise. On the palate, the picture shifts somewhat; the sense of detail is still very much present, but the power conveyed through tight, well-judged tannins cannot leave anyone indifferent! Coupled with precision, it highlights Branaire-Ducru’s ability to craft wines that assert themselves with subtlety. A great Branaire!

Dark, intense, beautiful purple color. Very aromatic nose with fresh fruit. Delicate on the attack, flavorful mid-palate, with taste, body, and a supple texture. Even if the flavor is a touch lively, the wine melts on the palate with coated, even aromatic, tannins.

One of the more discreet St Julien wines, undergoing a great resurgence right now, and this stands out for its quality and value. Tobacco leaf, baked earth, crushed rocks, crayon and mint leaf set against blueberry and cassis fruits. Balanced, with the finesse of the appellation. Ideally this is put away for another four years or so, but it has the delicacy that makes it just about approachable if you can't wait. I drank it with friends a few months ago, and nobody was complaining. 43 hl/ha yield.

94–96. Barrel Sample. This is a richly perfumed wine that has bold tannins and dense black fruits. There is a fine line of juicy acidity cutting through all the richness to lend freshness against all the concentration. This is for long-term aging.