2022 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien

Darker currants, leafy herbs, graphite, tobacco, and subtle orange zest-like nuances all emerge from the 2022 Château Branaire-Ducru, a ripe, concentrated, flawlessly balanced Saint-Julien. With medium to full-bodied richness, a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, and plenty of tannins, it's another no-brainer of a 2022 that readers will love to have in their cellar. The 2022 is 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in oak.

2022 Branaire-Ducru is one of my favorite wines from the entire Left Bank in the 2022 vintage, no faint praise when considering the caliber of the vintage in question. At its heart, this is an incredible buy in collectible Bordeaux: it has the composure and caliber to stand up to peers at multiples of the price, yet is refreshingly and undeniably delicious at a price where it’s all too easy to pull corks. It’s also a great credit to François-Xavier Maroteaux and his team, who have clearly mastered the estate’s state-of-the-art winemaking facility without losing the thread of what has made Branaire distinctive across generations. For all the polish and precision of a top-tier vintage, it remains deeply of its place and quintessentially Branaire. Full of bright red fruits throughout, there’s a viscosity to the palate that speaks to a concentrated wine, but it still comes off bright and airy, with remarkably fine tannins and a long finish that brings out a slight minerality at the end. It is so composed, and somehow retains a classic St-Julien profile. The refinement and detail are just next level. I’ve considered this a special wine since tasting it En Primeur, and it’s done nothing but confirm its status among St-Julien’s elite since then. I’m thrilled to have this in my cellar, and I think anybody with a deep stash of 2022 Branaire-Ducru will be drinking like royalty for years to come.