Decanter (97)

Bouchard’s holding here is superb: 0.90ha on the edge of the Puligny side at midslope between Ramonet and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. In 2019, Bouchard emphasised the richness by picking this parcel last. Ripe apples, white flowers and even a touch of honey make their appearance on the nose, while the texture on the palate is unctuous and deep without being heavy. There is still enough freshness to keep this lively through the intensely long finish.

James Suckling (95)

This a firm and pretty red with a solid tannin backbone to the medium body. Ripe fruit with some walnut, tobacco, and floral undertones. It’s long and flavorful. Balanced and firm. Classic style. Drink in 2025.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (92-95)

Absolutely black centre to this with a massively concentrated bouquet, thus far hiding the detail. Inky depths. I would like to see this again after racking. The wine is not destabilised on the palate and the concentration is certainly exceptional, fresher at the finish. There is certainly an awful lot of wine here: buy it if you want a wine for 25 years time! Tasted: November 2021

Wine Enthusiast (95)

This family-owned estate has produced a structured and dark wine with great concentration balanced by acidity and pure, creamy fruit. It is a wine with a good future. The aftertaste leaves juicy acidity and firm tannins. Drink from 2025.

Wine Spectator (96)

The core of this red is loaded with pure plum, blueberry and black currant fruit flavors. The polished structure is integrated, with alluring ganache, anise and sweet tobacco notes throughout, all in a polished and balanced frame. A very classy red that isn't shy about its power but pushes its purity to the fore. Best from 2024 through 2039.

Wine Spectator (96)

The core of this red is loaded with pure plum, blueberry and black currant fruit flavors. The polished structure is integrated, with alluring ganache, anise and sweet tobacco notes throughout, all in a polished and balanced frame. A very classy red that isn't shy about its power but pushes its purity to the fore. Best from 2024 through 2039.

James Suckling (97)

Very attractive aromas of currants, tile and sandalwood with black and red currants. It’s full-bodied with a tight, dense center-palate that remains closed in and tight. Yet there is underlying seriousness and length to this. Perhaps the greatest Branaire-Ducru ever made. Try after 2026.

James Suckling (95-96)

Dark-berry and blue-fruit character to the firm, chewy tannins that are polished and solid. Medium to full body. Wood and walnut undertones now. Impressive.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (95+)

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.

James Suckling (94-95)

A very pretty wine, showing blackberry and blackcurrant aromas with crushed stone. Medium to full body with layers of fine-grained tannins. Bright and refined. Lots of dark fruit at the end. Solid weight.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

Darker currants, leafy herbs, graphite, tobacco, and subtle orange zest-like nuances all emerge from the 2022 Château Branaire-Ducru, a ripe, concentrated, flawlessly balanced Saint-Julien. With medium to full-bodied richness, a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, and plenty of tannins, it's another no-brainer of a 2022 that readers will love to have in their cellar. The 2022 is 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in oak.

Jeb Dunnuck (97)

Darker currants, leafy herbs, graphite, tobacco, and subtle orange zest-like nuances all emerge from the 2022 Château Branaire-Ducru, a ripe, concentrated, flawlessly balanced Saint-Julien. With medium to full-bodied richness, a concentrated, layered mouthfeel, and plenty of tannins, it's another no-brainer of a 2022 that readers will love to have in their cellar. The 2022 is 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot, aged 18 months in oak.

James Suckling (95-96)

This has so much lead pencil, stone and blackcurrant character, as well as blackberry. It’s medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and a polished finish. Very classy and structured.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (96)

Lush and intense, grip and expansion through the palate, this is expertly put together, great quality, gentle white pepper spice, fragrant smoked cumin, crushed raspberry and red cherry, peony and roses smoked earth and black tea. Owner Henri Lurton, technical director Christophe Capdeville.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

Full sweet spot Brane Cantenac, not tasting quite as luscious as during the recent vertical at the estate, with the austerity more evident in the tannins, but come on, this is still hard to argue with, full of character and sap and vivid life, cocoa bean, brambled autumnal fruit, cola, crushed rocks and crayons. 70% new oak barrels. Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.

Jane Anson Inside Bordeaux (97)

Full sweet spot Brane Cantenac, not tasting quite as luscious as during the recent vertical at the estate, with the austerity more evident in the tannins, but come on, this is still hard to argue with, full of character and sap and vivid life, cocoa bean, brambled autumnal fruit, cola, crushed rocks and crayons. 70% new oak barrels. Eric Boissenot consultant, Henri Lurton owner, Christophe Capdeville technical director.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

While the wood flavors are palpable in this wine, so are the firm tannins and dense black fruit. These elements suggest a wine that will have power and great concentration while also generous blackberry fruits. Drink from 2024.

Wine Enthusiast (95)

While the wood flavors are palpable in this wine, so are the firm tannins and dense black fruit. These elements suggest a wine that will have power and great concentration while also generous blackberry fruits. Drink from 2024.

Wine Advocate (97)

Derived exclusively from the château's holdings on the deep gravel soils of the plateau of Brane, the 2019 Brane-Cantenac has turned out brilliantly and merits a special effort to seek out. Wafting from the glass with aromas of wild berries, pencil shavings, violets, sweet loamy soil and cardamon, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with lively acids, ripe tannins and a beautifully seamless, perfumed profile. Retaining all the estate's signature elegance but with an extra dimension of depth and intensity, it's the finest Brane-Cantenac of the modern era and one of the great successes of the 2019 vintage.

James Suckling (96-97)

Extremely floral and beautiful with blackberry and blackcurrant aromas that follow through to a full body with a solid core of fruit and loads of dark fruit, sweet tobacco, bark and earth. Chewy, fine tannins. Perhaps the best of the trilogy years.

James Suckling (94-95)

A medium-bodied, very polished Brane-Cantenac with firm yet fine and textured tannins. Deep and compact core of black fruit, herbs and spices. Pretty licorice and clove notes. Structured and long. 74% cabernet sauvignon, 22% merlot, 2% cabernet franc, 1% petit verdot and 1% carmenere.

Jeb Dunnuck (99)

A brilliant, borderline perfect wine, the 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère, and 1% Petit Verdot that was aged 18 months in 100% new French oak. Insanely good blue fruits, spring flowers, graphite, and damp earth define the aromatics, and it builds beautifully with air, showing intensity, depth, purity, and complexity. Just gorgeous on the palate as well, it's full-bodied and has a deep, layered, seamless mouthfeel, ultra-fine tannins, perfectly integrated acidity, and flawless balance. Back up the truck on this beauty. It will have a broad drinking window and should cruise for 40+ years. Drink 2026-2066. The 2022 was harvested from September 7 to October 10, hitting 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.61.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (96+)

The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is deep, bold and explosive, yet also closed in on itself. That won't be a problem in another few years' time, but today, the Grand Vin is embryonic. Time in the glass brings out dark red fruit, cedar, tobacco, dried herbs, mint and spice. Brane-Cantenac remains a wine of timeless classicism, a wine that embodies all the beauty and charm that only Bordeaux is capable of. Floral notes lift the dense, sustained finish. Superb.

Vinous (94-96)

The 2019 Bonnes-Mares Grand Cru has a rich and generous bouquet with blueberry and black cherry aromas, the most extravagant of Bruno Clair’s wines this year. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins, very poised and focused with a mineral-driven finish that lingers in the mouth. Lovely strictness on the finish counterbalances the precocity on the nose.

Vinous (96)

The 2016 Chambertin Clos-de-Bèze Grand Cru has a generous and pleasing nose with scents of strawberry preserve, crushed stone, rose petals and subtle orange-blossom. This is refined and transparent. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannins. Beautifully balanced, this has a symmetry that is beguiling and classic. A little austere finish suggests it will benefit from several years in bottle. Utterly beguiling with enormous ageing potential. Tasted blind at the 2016 Burgfest tasting.

The Bruno Clair Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos du Fonteny 2011 is a riveting exhibit from the esteemed house of Bruno Clair. Constructed within the notable terroir of Gevrey-Chambertin, in the heart of Burgundy, this wine proudly represents its Premier Cru status. The 2011 vintage seduces the palate with a harmonious blend of black fruits, ripe berries and lighter floral notes, underpinned by the quintessential minerality that is a testament to its chalky-clay soil origin.

Bruno Clair, a benchmark Burgundian producer, exhibits masterful traditional winemaking methods, from hand-harvested grapes to aging in French oak barrels for 12 to 18 months. This meticulously crafted bottle, rightly named 'Clos du Fonteny', is well-regarded for its depth, elegance and remarkable ageing potential. A premier choice for collectors and enthusiasts seeking the refinement of Bruno Clair Gevrey-Chambertin 1er Cru Clos du Fonteny 2011.

Jasper Morris Inside Burgundy (94-96)

5 Star Wine. Beautiful colour here, a darker crimson, and the fruit is magical. Perfectly on the red and black cusp while the whole bunches add a floral note. The Clos du Fonteny is on terrific form today with a fine balance of acidity to finish, alongside balanced tannins. A fine long aftertaste. Drink from 2030-2036. Tasted Nov 2024.