Château Branaire Ducru 2024 en Primeur

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.

The 2024 Branaire-Ducru offers up a pretty and precise bouquet of cassis, violets and pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, supple and suave, with polished tannins and tangy acids, it's a fine-boned, delicate wine from Branaire that was harvested between 20 September and 9 October. It's a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that attained 12.8% alcohol, and it's being raised in a touch less new oak than usual.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. Sweet red cherries, soft notes of liuorice, floral nuances, fine herbal spice, with undertones of mandarin zest. Juicy, red berry notes and lively, finesse-rich acidity, mineral and persistent, a versatile food wine.

The 2024 Branaire Ducru was cropped at a respectable 41.5 hl/ha between September 20 and October 9. It has a delightful bouquet with pure blackberry, blueberry and light violet scents percolating through with time. There's just a touch of iodine in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, pretty black fruit laced with cassis and touches of white pepper. There is an elegant framework on the finish so that this Saint-Julien slips down the throat with ease, as I am sure it will once in bottle. Whilst this does not reach the heights of the 2022, this is destined to be a very delicious Branaire Ducru. Neal Martin.

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.