St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend

2017 vintage. Good, but outperformed by the amazing 2017 Teynac.

Deep purple with blueberry nose to match. All around delicious. Misses a 93 due to slight underripeness that presents on the finish. Will improve with time.

92+ points

Blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc, deep Ruby with aromas of dark fruits, floral spice and smoky cedar notes, aged 12 months in 60% new barrels. On the palate flavors of fresh blackberry, plum and black cherry with cacao, tobacco, licorice and smoky spice. Fine grainy tannins, well balanced on long finish, ending with fruit, cedar, smoke and earthy mineral character. Very nice, will age well but wait a few more years to really enjoy!

The 2020 Branaire Ducru takes some time to unfurl in the glass and so I afford it 10 minutes to open with rigorous swirling. It repays patience with a tightly-knit, quite intense and disarmingly pure bouquet with blackberry, bilberry, loamy and light minty aromas. The oak is nicely integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with finely-chiseled tannins. As I remarked out of barrel, there is more weight on the back palate than older vintages, greater density and backbone. This has created a more satisfying Branaire Ducru with plenty of freshness on the finish. Bon vin. (Neal Martin, Vinous, February 2023)

awesomely rich nose of blackberry, cherry & currant ~ soft black licorice, cigar box & balsa wood

fruits taste muddled, candied and raisin like but w just a hint of acidity to make it work

Still tanninc and youthful. Great wine for sure

Losing some of it’s magic already.

Sweet tobacco notes interspersed with woodsy mushrooms, warm rye bread with toasted sesame and grill notes. Cherry and baked currant tart. Silky soft cherry open reveals exquisitely suspended smoke framing black cherry and cedar dusted black currant and dried blackberry with sage and nutmeg.


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Plummy and warm with peppercorn and blackberry, rye toast, cedar, walnut and oak, hazelnut, sweet tobacco, milk chocolate, and very ripe blueberries. Definitely fruit forward for such young Bordeaux, even after long decant. Disjointed youth, with gravel and tight green spears distracting. Spruce and maple nut, with a green pine nut tighten the leather bands. Good structure though, and really pleasant lurking power.

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Ah, ducru, it’s been too long. Balance. Sheer balance! Coffee and cocoa and lead pencil and jeez, I dunno, it’s great stuff. Comforting. Love it.