St. Julien

Region: France, Bordeaux, Saint Julien

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon (48%), Merlot (37%), Cabernet Franc (8%) & Petit Verdot (7%)

Tasting notes: Ruby colour black reflections, frank nose that opens on aromas of stewed fruit, candied fruit, notes of toasted wood, animal tip, good balance on a fairly fleshy and full wine, the character is pretty with finesse, frankness, tannins are ripe, good frank and straight lengthening on finesse.

Region: France, Bordeau, Saint Julien 

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot & Cabernet Franc 

Background: Château Branaire-Ducru is located in the heart of the Medoc, between Margaux and Pauillac in the Saint-Julien appellation area. It is surrounded by the other great Classified Growths that populate this outstanding terroir. The vines grow in a mixture of gravel and pebbles, deposited there by the River Garonne in the Quaternary Period. 

Tasting notes: An appealing nose, aromatic with hints of pepper and blackberry fruit. Good body and really well judged balance. This is the second wine of Château Branaire-Ducru.

Region: France, Bordeaux, Saint Julien

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon (62%), Merlot (35%) & Petit Verdot (3%)

Background: Bruno Borie explained that St Julien had a little less rain than its neighbours, so the resulting berries are very small, up to 15% below average. This effect, combined with a later harvest, has maximised ripeness, creating Bruno’s richest ever vintage for tannins and sugars – yet this is brilliantly supple and full of cedar, spice and pepper notes.

Tasting notes: Powerful, silky, and very aromatic, La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou beguiles with its bouquet, its balance, its remarkable finesse and its lengthy finish.

Review: 92/100 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate, March 2021: "The 2018 La Croix de Beaucaillou is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot, aged 12 months in two-third new barriques. It has a pH of 3.75, 15% alcohol and an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 96. Deep garnet-purple coloured, it rolls effortlessly out of the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blueberries, baked plums and blackcurrant cordial with hints of bouquet garni, underbrush, clove oil and cast-iron pan. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a sturdy frame of firm, grainy tannins and just enough freshness supporting the muscular black fruits, finishing earthy. Not a second wine as such, because it comes from a dedicated part of the vineyard, the blocks for La Croix de Beaucaillou are generally located on the south bank of the La Mouline steam."

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Cabernet Franc

Background: Thomas Barton left Ireland to settle in Bordeaux, founding few years later a wine merchant company - that still bears the name Barton today. In 1821 his grandson, Hugh Barton, purchased Château Langoa, an elegant residence built in 1758. He was seduced by the architecture and its 20 hectares of vines planted in the Saint-Julien appellation. His passion and pride in his wine were only to grow when he saw Langoa awarded the rank of "Third Classified Growth" in the historic 1855 classification. 6 generations later, the Barton story continues with Anthony's daughter, Lilian, and her two children, now writing the chapter of the 10th generation in Bordeaux.

Region: France, Bordeaux, Saint Julien

Grape variety: Cabernet Sauvignon (64%), Merlot (27%), Petit Verdot (6%) & Cabernet Franc (3%)

Tasting notes: Deep in colour, this has top notes of red fruit and cedar. The palate is very suave with an underlying freshness. There is a lovely weight to this wine, with some pleasing cassis notes on the mid-palate. It has a lovely, fine finish with some crunchy blackcurrant fruit. Very poised and elegant, Branaire’s 2016 has great finesse.