Château Branaire-Ducru 2015

Here too, transparency, freshness, and delicate fruitiness matter more than sheer power—immensely elegant and refined.

This pumps lush fig, boysenberry and blackberry confiture notes along, pushed by a rather polished but ample structure. Lots of anise and violet details cascade in on the finish, giving this extra aromatic dimension. Best from 2020 through 2038. 15,000 cases made.

Juicy and alive, this shines out the glass, compelling and charming with a searing brightness and zestiness - just great acidity that lifts the initial burst on the palate. The liquorice and clove spice is at the fore, as is the slight stoniness that lingers on the tongue, with the angles to the tannins giving the frame. It's forward and well worked, never too in your face, retaining the elegant aspect, but this has that tension and drive, straight and linear. Feels polished but not ready to drink yet. I do love the chalky, cleanness you get on the cheeks and the liquorice spice. Effortlessly balanced and definitely leaves you wanting more. This will be excellent in time.

More open than many 2015 St.-Juliens at this stage in spite of the firm, dry tannin structure behind the bright cassis. The tannins need some integration, but with some patience (from 2021 or 2022), this will become a rather fine wine.

Tasted blind. Looks quite mature. Ripe fruit on the nose. Still unformed and a bit charmless. (JR)

The 2015 Branaire Ducru is a gorgeous, totally sexy wine. Rose petal, lavender, mint, sweet red berry and gently spiced notes give the wine much of its gracious, lilting personality. Precise and nuanced to the core, the 2015 Branaire is all class. It's easy to overlook Branaire in the context of Saint-Julien, where most of the other important wines are much more powerful. Branaire always speaks with a hushed, discreet voice. Readers who appreciate finesse will find much to admire here. The 2015 is a wine of pure and total sensual pleasure. In 2015, the blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 4% Cabernet Franc, aged for 18 months in French oak, 60% new. Don't miss it. Tasted two times.

Vibrant, lush, refined, elegant, and almost at the start of its prime-time drinking window, the wine is packed with mocha, tobacco, dark red fruits, earth, and spice on the nose, and on the long, vibrant palate. Drink from 2023–2045.

Deep ruby with purple reflections and discreet rim brightening. Delicate oak savouriness, ripe cherry fruit, delicate hints of orange zest and tobacco nuances, a multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy with fresh cherry, elegant, freshly structured, integrated tannins, balanced and well lasting, discreet extract sweetness on the finish, good certain ageing potential at medium length.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with a violet hue on the rim. Plummy initial bouquet, a discreet lactic note, indicating good depth. On the palate, plenty of cherries, a slightly floral note in the extract, with flesh and potential, aromatic finish. Tends toward a classic style.

Silky, medium-bodied, fresh bouquet of plums, strawberries, mint, tobacco. Medium-bodied, firm palate with fine tannins, light fruit, finely muscular structure, good aromatics, delicately bitter finish. 17/20 2023 - 2038

After bottling, it shows a bit more evolution than its peers, fleshy, with velvety tannins, but still hesitant on the mid-palate. It benefits from prolonged aeration.

Endowed with lovely smoothness, with ripe fruit and a full mid-palate, this is a gourmet, well-crafted wine. We praise its pretty, juicy finish.

Deep color with purple highlights. Lovely spicy nose. The wine is very elegant with good density, small vegetal notes, and freshness. Beautiful mid-palate with softness and density. Lovely wine.

Inviting, pleasant bouquet with notes of cocoa beans and caramel, followed by hints of peppermint and garrigue. Round and indulgent on the palate, the wine is already quite approachable while retaining good depth. Hard to resist nonetheless!

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Very aromatic nose, refined and fruity. Fleshy on the attack, delicate as it unfolds, very aromatic, with depth between the mid-palate and the finish; this wine soars on the back palate, deep, very flavorful, and noble.

Deep purple-garnet, dense at the core, with violet hues at the rim. Plum-tinged bouquet with a subtle lactic note, indicating good depth. On the palate, plenty of cherry aromatics and a faint floral note in the extract, with flesh and potential, aromatic finish. Leans toward classicism.

This family-owned estate has produced a structured and dark wine with great concentration balanced by acidity and pure, creamy fruit. It is a wine with a good future. The aftertaste leaves juicy acidity and firm tannins. Drink from 2025.