The 2023 Branaire-Ducru is a Bordeaux Blend from the renowned Branaire-Ducru estate in the St Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, bottled with a cork closure, is a nuanced and balanced representation of its vintage.

James Suckling awarded this wine an impressive 96 points, noting its "lead pencil, stone and blackcurrant character, as well as blackberry." He described it as "medium-bodied with a solid core of fruit and a polished finish," commending its structure and classiness (jamessuckling.com, 4/22/2024).

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, through William Kelley, gave it 94 points, highlighting the "classy aromas of dark berries, plums, pencil shavings, and licorice." Kelley appreciated its "medium to full-bodied, cool, and layered palate" and noted its "terrific depth and vibrancy of fruit, refined tannins, and a long, suave finish" (Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 4/26/2024).

Neal Martin of Vinous also scored it 94 points, describing it as "one of the most elegant Branaire-Ducru vintages to date." He highlighted its "charming, very pure bouquet" and "delicate floral scents" (Vinous, 4/29/2024).

Jane Anson praised its "bright fruits, slate tannins, peony florals, black tea, tobacco, and tons of St Julien finesse," calling it a "delicious Branaire" with a score of 94 points (janeanson.com, 4/17/2024).

Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com rated it 95 points, noting its "depth in color" and aromatic profile of "blackberries, plums, charcoal, tobacco, black currants, cinnamon, and flowers." He described its palate as "perfectly balanced between its silky textures and vibrant acidities" (TheWineCellarInsider.com, 4/1/2024).

Jeb Dunnuck also awarded it 95 points, calling it "one hell of a classy, balanced 2023" with "absolute classic notes of red and blue fruits, spring flowers, sappy, and cedarwood" (jebdunnuck.com, 5/8/2024).

Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Independent scored it 94 points, noting its "fragrant scents of crushed blackcurrants, Morello cherries, and lavender oil" and its "good amount of black berry flavors, with savory accents and ripe, grainy tannins" (The Wine Independent, 5/8/2024).

Decanter praised its "really fragrant" nose and "juicy and supple" palate, awarding it 95 points. They appreciated its "lovely energy," "fine tannins," and "pretty and stylish" profile (Decanter, 4/9/2024).

The wine is crafted from a blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc, and 3.5% Petit Verdot. The harvest took place from September 12 to October 4, with yields at 53 hectoliters per hectare. This vintage features a 13.1% ABV and a pH of 3.63. The wine was aged for 18 months in 60% new oak, with 13% press wine included.

Overall, the 2023 Branaire-Ducru is a standout vintage, praised for its aromatic complexity, refined structure, and long aging potential.