Château Branaire-Ducru 2016 – Saint-Julien, Cru Classé

The nose is elegant, fresh and offers richness, minerality, a beautiful delicacy as well as a beautiful richness (but all in balance). It reveals notes of wild blackberry, fleshy/ripe red berries and more slightly fleshy strawberry associated with touches of violet/lily, Sichuan pepper, exotic spices as well as very discreet hints of toasted and cardamom (in the background). The palate is fruity, well-balanced, beautifully elegant, racy, very finely tight and offers a beautiful juiciness, a beautiful freshness, an acidulous frame, a beautiful definition, a fine creaminess, a good finesse, a beautiful structurer, a beautiful finesse of the grain as well as crunchiness. On the palate this wine expresses notes of ripe/crunchy cassis, crunchy/juicy blackberry and more slightly red berries associated with small touches of flowers (violet, lily, rose), touches of crunchy raspberry as well as hints of tonka bean, cardamom, black tea and discreet hints of gravels. Tannins are fine and elegant. Good length. The finish is very discreetly grainy. (2024+)