Château Branaire-Ducru 2023
St-Julien 4ème Grand Cru Classé
Bordeaux, France
Regular price£194.00
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Arriving: Spring 2026
Shipping duty paid to Mainland UK is charged at a flat rate of £9.99 per consignment and POA for Northern Ireland or Islands.
Shipping under bond is dependant on location, but starts at £15 per consignment.
| Style: Red | Packaging: OWC |
| ABV: % | Closure: Cork |
| Organic: | Drink from: 2030 |
| Biodynamic: | Drink to: 2045 |
| Grapes: | |
Critic scores
94 RP, 93 NM, 93 AG, 95 JS, 94 JA
Critic reviews
"The 2023 Branaire-Ducru is a real success, revealing aromas of dark berries, plums, licorice and lead pencil, subtly accented by spice. Medium- to full-bodied, seamless and layered, it is built around a vibrant, finely delineated core of fruit framed by powdery tannins, concluding with a long, perfumed and sapid finish."
Yohan Castaing, April 2026, RobertParker.com
"The 2023 Branaire Ducru was bottled at the end of June. It has a more generous bouquet than anticipated, black plum and raspberry fruit laced with cinnamon and graphite scents, typically Saint-Julien. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a bright, quite high-toned entry with top notes of blue fruit, again, that graphite edge, plus a little tarriness toward the nicely structured finish. Classic claret through and through, which is just what you want from Branaire Ducru, this will drink sooner than the previous vintage."
Neal Martin, February 2026, Vinous.com
"The 2023 Branaire-Ducru is a very pretty, delicate wine. Floral and gracious, the 2023 is an understated, classy Saint-Julien. It offers lovely understated depth and fine overall balance. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, mint, blood orange, cinnamon and white pepper all grace this soft, open-knit Branaire. It will be interesting to see if this gains weight with time in bottle. Today, my impression is that yields of 53 hectoliters per hectare, on the high side, are especially marked."
Antonio Galloni, March 2026, Vinous.com
"Classic Saint-Julien with a layer of minerals over the fruit, showing clear aromas of cassis and citrus plus a touch of fine, roasted spices. A hint of graphite and tobacco. Medium-bodied, taut and precise, with intensity and a long, integrated finish. This is more about elegance than power and density. A blend of 61% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 5.5% cabernet franc and 3.5% petit verdot. Drinkable now but better from 2027."
James Suckling, January 2026, JamesSuckling.com
"Supremely classic and balanced, great appellation typicity, a little subdued at this early stage, has the austerity of the vintage, but gives lift with floral rose bud, black tea, saffron, slate. 53hl/ha yields."
Jane Anson, March 2026, JaneAnson.com
Yohan Castaing, April 2026, RobertParker.com
"The 2023 Branaire Ducru was bottled at the end of June. It has a more generous bouquet than anticipated, black plum and raspberry fruit laced with cinnamon and graphite scents, typically Saint-Julien. Fine delineation. The palate is medium-bodied with a bright, quite high-toned entry with top notes of blue fruit, again, that graphite edge, plus a little tarriness toward the nicely structured finish. Classic claret through and through, which is just what you want from Branaire Ducru, this will drink sooner than the previous vintage."
Neal Martin, February 2026, Vinous.com
"The 2023 Branaire-Ducru is a very pretty, delicate wine. Floral and gracious, the 2023 is an understated, classy Saint-Julien. It offers lovely understated depth and fine overall balance. Crushed red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, mint, blood orange, cinnamon and white pepper all grace this soft, open-knit Branaire. It will be interesting to see if this gains weight with time in bottle. Today, my impression is that yields of 53 hectoliters per hectare, on the high side, are especially marked."
Antonio Galloni, March 2026, Vinous.com
"Classic Saint-Julien with a layer of minerals over the fruit, showing clear aromas of cassis and citrus plus a touch of fine, roasted spices. A hint of graphite and tobacco. Medium-bodied, taut and precise, with intensity and a long, integrated finish. This is more about elegance than power and density. A blend of 61% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 5.5% cabernet franc and 3.5% petit verdot. Drinkable now but better from 2027."
James Suckling, January 2026, JamesSuckling.com
"Supremely classic and balanced, great appellation typicity, a little subdued at this early stage, has the austerity of the vintage, but gives lift with floral rose bud, black tea, saffron, slate. 53hl/ha yields."
Jane Anson, March 2026, JaneAnson.com