Saint Julien

The 2016 Duluc de Branaire-Ducru is a soft, fruity wine to drink now and over the next few years, while the red/purplish berry fruit and floral notes retain their youthful vibrancy.

Branaire has done a great job here with their 2020. Owner François-Xavier Maroteaux explained, as we tasted over zoom, how wonderfully aromatic the Merlot was for them - unusual but very welcome - and it has worke...(read more)

Representing only 39% of the estate's production, the 2021 Lagrange is very promising indeed, mingling aromas of wild berries and blackcurrants with notions of loamy soils, pencil shavings and violets. Medium to full-bod...(read more)

One of the more discreet St Juliens, undergoing a great resurgence right now, and this stands out for its quality and value. Tobacco leaf, baked earth, crushed rocks, crayon and mint leaf set against blueberry and cassis...(read more)

Tasted blind. Good lift. It's very fluid and juicy. More charm than most 2006 St-Juliens. Racy and stony. Good finish and persistence. Drink 2015 - 2030

64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot. Ruby rather than black, a breezy freshness - supple and lithe and elegant. There's a rose petal freshness and delicacy, but no lack of drive and pow...(read more)

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot. Pure purple crimson to the edge. Sweet, so firm and delicate. Precision taken to the extreme. Superb fruit, the whole thing tightly woven fine silk. 'A vintage of pur...(read more)

Jean-Michel Laporte (formerly of Conseillante) has now taken the reins here but he did not have input into this vintage. He has no plans to revolutionise things, just to make small, gradual changes like slowly increasing...(read more)

Six vintage vertical (2006,2008,2009,2014,2016,2017)