2024 Château Branaire-Ducru 4. Cru Classé

James Suckling - 92-94

This crunchy Branaire-Ducru is full of fruit, flowers, citrus, stones and fine herbs. Medium-bodied on the palate, showing fresh berries and cherries. Al dente with a juicy, linear finish.

Vinous - 92-94

The 2024 Branaire-Ducru is a super-classic Branaire. Medium in body and gracious, the 2024 is defined by its lifted aromatics and silky, polished tannins. The proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon is especially high in 2024, a sign that the fruit harvested on the later side benefited from better conditions, namely a lack of rain. The 2024 possesses lovely purity and exquisite balance. Floral top notes and a burst of red-toned fruit reappear on the finish to round things out in style. It will be especially fine if élevage softens the contours. This is a fine effort from proprietor Francois-Xavier Maroteau and longtime winemaker Jean-Dominique Videau. Tasted two times.

Decanter - 92

Great aromatics on the nose, perfumed and so vibrant - lovely raspberry and red cherry fragrance with soft herbal accents. Rose and violet notes too. Succulent and juicy with softly fleshy tannins. This is sleek and focussed, but there’s energy and lift to this with an intense aromatic continuation. A little serious, sleek and straight, with some toasted edges and a strict finish, but such purity and focus while still keeping the Branaire charm. Some bitter orange acidity. Wonderful potential. 2.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Ageing 55% new oak, usually more at 60%. 2% press, 3.58pH. 62% grand vin production. Tasted three times. A yield of 41.5hl/ha.