Château Branaire-Ducru - St.-Julien 2020 (750ml)
Price: $61.00
| Producer | Château Branaire-Ducru |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | St.-Julien |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 1005715 |
| Size | 750ml |
James Suckling: 96 Points
Plenty of blackberry blueberry lead pencil and violet aromas here that follow through to a full body with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. So integrated and polished.Changes a lot in the glass. Thoughtful young red. Try after 2027.
Vinous: 95+ Points
The 2020 Branaire-Ducru was so alluring en primeur but is very shy today. That said some of that youthful exuberance has given way to the characteristic Brainaire finesse. Dark red cherry spice grilled herbs menthol and licorice emerge but only with great reluctance. Sweet floral and spice notes lift the finish nicely. The 2020 is going to need the better part of a decade to come around. - By Antonio Galloni on December 2022
jsDecanter: 95 Points
An intensely perfumed nose with soft cocoa powder aromas. The texture is alluring juicy and ripe but lifted quite dense but also linear a push-pull of direct fruit and chalky plump tannins. Rich but not as supple as 2018 a bit more angular. Black cherries plums and currants on the palate with both a nice sweetness and salinity. Not so easy to taste and understand today it's thought provoking with lots going on. Great potential for a long life and one to watch!! Bottled at the beginning of July 2022.
Wine Advocate: 94 Points
The 2020 Branaire-Ducru will require more patience than the supple sensual 2019 but it is another strong effort for this overperforming estate. Wafting from the glass with aromas of crème de cassis plums pencil shavings petals burning embers and discreet hints of new oak it's medium to full-bodied deep and layered with a concentrated core of vibrant fruit and fine but youthfully firm tannins that assert themselves on the gently chewy finish.
Wine Spectator: 94 Points
This has a lovely floral lead followed quickly by a very pure and precise beam of cassis and bitter plum fruit. Shows ample structure but this is fine-grained and almost silky in feel while subtle dark tea savory and iron notes peek through on the lengthy finish. Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2038. 12000 cases made 1800 cases imported.
The Wine Independent: 93 Points
The 2020 Branaire-Ducru is deep garnet-purple in color. Pure scents of blackcurrant jelly crushed black plums and Bing cherries spring from the glass leading to nuances of bay leaves graphite black olives and cedar. The medium-bodied palate is taut and muscular delivering crunchy black and red fruit layers with a fine-grained texture and bags of freshness finishing on a lingering mineral note.
Jeb Dunnuck: 93+ Points
Showing beautifully the deeper purple/ruby-hued 2020 Château Branaire-Ducru offers a deep masculine bouquet of blackcurrants plums smoked tobacco and iron. This carries to a medium to full-bodied concentrated nicely balanced Saint-Julien with plenty of mid-palate depth ripe integrated tannins and a great finish. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more.
Jane Anson: 93 Points
Firm tannins medi
