- Château Branaire-Ducru 2023 has been released for £386 per 12×75.
- ‘One of the most elegant vintages to date’, said Neal Martin who rated it 92-94 points.
- Buyers looking for value might want to consider the 2019, 2020 and 2021 vintages.
As part of this year’s Bordeaux En Primeur campaign, Château Branaire-Ducru 2023 has been released at €32 per bottle ex-négociant, down 19.2% on the 2022 release (€39.60).
It is being offered on the international market at a price of £386 per 12×75, a decrease of 18.6% on the 2022’s opening price (£474 per 12×75).
See more pricing analysis below.
Critical Response
Neal Martin (Vinous) gave a score of 92-94 points. Describing the wine as ‘understated and sapid’, he added that ‘it should be open for business a little earlier than others’.
James Lawther MW (Jancis Robinson) gave a score of 16.5/20, calling the wine ‘juicy and layered with some zest and lift’.
William Kelley (The Wine Advocate) said the 2023 has ‘turned out beautifully’, and awarded it a barrel range of 93-94 points.
Antonio Galloni (Vinous) gave the wine a score of 91-93 points, adding that it ‘comes across a bit light, even within the context of this property, where the wines are always laid back relative to neighboring estates’.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (The Wine Independent) gave a score of 92-94 points. According to her, ‘it reveals fragrant scents of crushed blackcurrants, Morello cherries, and lavender oil, giving way to hints of graphite, tar, and aniseed’.
James Suckling called the wine ‘very classy and structured’, awarding 95-96 points.
Pricing analysis
While today’s release may be of interest to buyers, those looking for more opportunities have options in back-vintages.
The 94-point 2020 vintage is available at £350, a 9.3% discount to today’s release. Neal Martin most recently described it having ‘great potential’ and ‘indicative of a Saint-Julien that has upped its game in recent years.’
While receiving a slightly lower score of 92 points from Martin, the 2019 and 2021 vintages are available at a 14.5% and 17.9% discount, respectively, to today’s release.
Use our ready-made list to easily spot opportunities in back-vintages of Château Branaire-Ducru and other Bordeaux wines.
Our Bordeaux En Primeur 2023 page contains everything you need to know about this year’s campaign. You can also sign up for our daily En Primeur email alerts using the form below.
Liv-ex analysis is drawn from the world’s most comprehensive database of fine wine prices. The data reflects the real time activity of Liv-ex’s 620+ merchant members from across the globe. Together they represent the largest pool of liquidity in the world – currently £100m of bids and offers across 20,000 wines.
