With their election over, and confidence in the future of La France restored it is back to business in Bordeaux this morning.
Château Branaire Ducru has been released at £232.50 per case of 6 IB.
Jane Anson in Decanter, gives it 95 points: ‘Always a supremely elegant, measured take on St-Julien that delivers in spades in 2016. Plush damson fruit comes through with just the right level of extraction. Beautifully rich, ripe fruit is joined by touches of oak at exactly the right moment. An exceptional showing from Branaire that rises above its 2015’.
Neal Martin also scores it 92-94, and describes it as ‘unashamedly classic’, whilst Jancis Robinson says ‘this could only be Bordeaux’, and gives it 17 points. This Saint Julien is a perennial favourite and will not disappoint in 2016.
Château Les Trois Croix Fronsac has been released at a price bang in the middle of our estimate, at £150 per case of 12 IB. Antonio Galloni says
‘The 2016 Les Troix Croix is gorgeous. Sweet floral notes give the intense red and purplish-hued fruits lovely aromatic lift and presence. Powerful and very ripe, but not at all heavy, the 2016 stands out for its impeccable balance and class’. For a wine at this price we agree that this is good value and a smart buy.
Also out this morning at £285 per case of 12 IB is Château Pibran from Pauillac. The critics liked it, with 90-93 points from The Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth and 90-92 from Neal Martin – so it should not be ignored. We were perhaps not quite so taken with it during the primeur tastings – and it’s just tipped out the top of our price estimate, so for us there could well be better value options out there in 2016.
As ever, you can keep up to date with everything from #Bdx16 on our Recent Releases page.