All of the following 2024 St. Julien wines were tasted in barrel in April in Bordeaux under non-blind conditions at either the chateau, various trade groups, organizations, negociants, or with consultants. When possible, wines were tasted multiple times. For a detailed overview and analysis of the vintage’s growing season, harvest, overall attributes and faults, producer quotes, as well as links to all of our 2024 Bordeaux appellation reports 2024 Bordeaux Vintage Report and Analysis
2024 Saint Julien Tasting Notes, Scores, Reviews…
2024 Beychevelle – St. Julien – Flowers, spearmint, cedar, cigar box, currants, and a background note of cocoa pop on the nose. The juicy, fresh palate presents a display of black raspberries topped with mint, chocolate, and Indian spices, alongside cherries and black cherries with ease. This leaves a touch of chalk at the end of the vibrant finish. If you allow it a few years in the bottle before pulling a cork, it will be even better and should provide you with pleasure for two or more decades with ease. The wine blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 3% Petit Verdot. 13.3% ABV, pH 3.57. The harvest took place September 24 – October 9. 58% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2029-2050. 93-95 Pts
2024 Beychevelle Amiral de Beychevelle – St. Julien – Currants, flowers, raspberries, and black cherries form the nose. Medium-bodied, juicy, vibrant, with energetic, sharp, red berries, and a lot of crunch on the mid-palate, as well as in the finish. The wine is produced from 51% Merlot with 49% Cabernet Sauvignon. Drink from 2027-2036. 89-91 Pts
Francois-Xavier Maroteaux Chateau Branaire Ducru “The dry summer, beginning in mid-July and continuing through August, saved as well as made the vintage.”
2024 Branaire Ducru – St. Julien – Flowery notes of red and black currants, mocha, spice, cedar, and tobacco are what you initially notice on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, silky, elegant, and refined, with a core of fruits leaning towards the red side of the spectrum, showcasing cherry, red currant, and strawberry. Vibrant, though not excessively so, this is a silky, fresh, perfumed, classically styled Branaire Ducru. The purity here truly makes an impression. You can enjoy this with pleasure quite early in its life and count on at least 20 more years of enjoyment. The wine blends 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.5% Petit Verdot. 13% ABV. The harvest took place September 20 – October 9. Yields were large at 41 hectoliters per hectare. 62% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. It is interesting to note that Brnaire Ducru was the first wine of the appellation offered for sale, coming out at the lowest price in years. Drink from 2028-2052. 92-94 Pts
2024 Du Glana – St. Julien – Light, bright, fresh, early-drinking, easy-going charmer that already delivers its cherries, and currants, with a chalky finish, so you can enjoy it on release. If you are seeking a Saint Julien that sells for a song, this early-drinker is a great choice. Drink from 2027-2037. 88-90 Pts
Bruno Borie Chateau Ducru Beaucaillou “The success of the vintage was clearly due to the warm and dry August. That, coupled with low yields caused by nature as well as our team’s extensive work in the vineyard, is what made the difference.”
2024 Ducru Beaucaillou – St. Julien – Asian spices, violets, flowers, saffron, licorice, and black with red currants define the perfume. The palate is lifted, juicy, and focused. There is balance between the wine’s energy, purity, and vibrancy, which produces a classic-styled wine (In a good way). The energetic finish is enhanced by the wine’s chalky tannins and crispness on the backend. Produced from blending 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 14% Merlot, 13.34% ABV, 3.81 pH. Picking took place from September 23 — October 7. Yields were 24 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2028-2055. 94-96 Pts
2024 Ducru-Beaucaillou La Croix Ducru-Beaucaillou – St. Julien – Flowers, black cherries, mocha, and a hint of spice define the perfume. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, juicy, and chalky, with lift and elegance in the currant-filled finish, along with a refreshing minty edge at the back. This should be delicious to enjoy early in life, but also offer the ability to age and evolve for 15 years easily. The wine is a blend of 65% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot. 13.75% ABV. Drink from 2025-2040. 91-93 Pts
2024 Finegrave – St. Julien – Currants, tobacco, cedar, and leafy herbs accompany the light red fruits with their savory edge. Drink this on the young side. Drink from 2027-2032. 86-88 Pts
2024 Gloria – St. Julien – Flowers, currants, cherries, and tobacco resonate in the nose, and on the medium-bodied, soft, fruity, red-berry packed palate. The wine is fresh, forward, and fruity, so you can enjoy it on, or just shortly after release. Drink from 2027-2038. 90-92 Pts
2024 Gruaud Larose – St. Julien – Flowers, boysenberries, raspberries, and cigar box aromatics open the wine. The wine is bright, with notes of chocolate, cherries, currants, spices, mocha, and a refreshing touch of mint providing freshness in the mid-palate through to the finish. The wine is a blend of 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc.12.39% ABV, 3.7 pH. Picking took place September 27 – October 8. Drink from 2029-2050. 92-94 Pts
2024 Gruaud Larose Sarget de Gruaud Larose – St. Julien – Currants, cranberries, and peppery herbs show easily in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is bright, sharp, and crisp, with chewy, piquant red fruits from start to finish. You should be able to enjoy this wine on release. The wine is a blend of 48% Cabernet Sauvignon, 46% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc,12.45% ABV. Drink from 2027-2033. 88-90 Pts
2024 Lagrange – St. Julien – Bright, chewy, and crisp, the fruits are vibrant, with sharpness, and definition, finishing with juicy, black with red currants in the endnote. Starting with the 2016 vintage, Lagrange has been on a hot streak! The wine is produced from 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot. 13% ABV. Drink from 2029-2042. 91-93 Pts
2024 Lagrange Les Arums de Lagrange – Bordeaux – Flowers, green apples and pears, with a touch of vanilla create a pleasant, forward, early-drinking charmer that will offer pleasure over the next few years. Drink from 2027-2030. 87 Pts
2024 Langoa Barton – St. Julien – Black currants, leafy-tobacco, and cedar are already expressive. Crisp, juicy, fresh, and subtle, the fruits are energetic and refined, leaving you with currants, and cherries in the finish in this medium-bodied charmer. The wine blends 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc.13% ABV. Harvesting took place September 24, – October 5. Drink from 2028-2044. 91-93 Pts
Damien Barton Leoville Barton “The biggest issue with 2024 Bordeaux was dilution in the Merlot, which we addressed in the blend with our ability to increase the amount of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend.”
2024 Leoville Barton – St. Julien – Opening with a kiss of oak before moving to black currants, licorice, flowers, mocha, and cedar in the perfume. Crisp, and lively, there is a refined texture on the palate, with layers of chalky berries, creme de cassis, and juicy currants finishing with a refreshing note of spearmint on the backend. The wine is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, 12.9% ABV. The harvest took place September 24 – October 5. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2028-2050. 92-94 Pts
2024 Leoville Las Cases – St. Julien – Juicy black currants, blackberries, Cuban cigar, cedar, and notes of crème de cassis fill the perfume. On the palate, the wine is long, vibrant, clean, and pure. There is a stately elegance to the currant-filled profile, with layers of blackberries and black cherries adding to its character. Firm, reserved, and refined, the fruits are fresh, boasting a classic profile, but classic in the best way. As always, Leoville Las Cases requires bottle aging. However, for Las Cases, this will be easy to taste with just about 5 years of age and should positively evolve for decades. This is in clear contention for wine of the vintage. Produced from a blend of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Merlot, 13.1% ABV. Harvesting took place September 30 – October 9. Only 55% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2030-2060. 95-97 Pts
2024 Leoville Las Cases Clos du Marquis – St. Julien – Licorice, tobacco wrappers, spearmint, and currants create the aromatic perfume. The wine fresh, but, not overly so, with a core of black, with red currants, cherries, chewy tannins, and juicy, sweet, and tart red red plums in the finish. The wine was made from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 5% Cabernet Franc. 12.9% ABV. Drink from 2028-2042. 91-93 Pts
2024 Leoville Las Cases Le Petit Lion du Marquis de Las Cases – St. Julien – Vibrant, fresh, juicy red currants pop easily. There is a lot of lift, and energy, as well as a strong, refreshing touch of mint in the crisp, crunchy, sweet, and tart, red berry finish. The wine is a blend of 62% Merlot, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 4% Cabernet Franc. 12.8% ABV. Drink from 2027-2039. 89-91 Pts
Sara Cuvelier Chateau Leoville Poyferre “2024 is a year of terroir. With challenging vintages, it is the terroir that makes the difference. The terroir, coupled with the climatic conditions, allowed us to produce a modern, classic vintage with complex aromatics. An added bonus is that the wines will be able to be enjoyed on the young side.”
2024 Leoville Poyferre – St. Julien – Cherry pipe tobacco, leafy herbs, flowers, peppery spices, and red fruits create the core of the wine here. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, fresh, bright, and zesty, with elegance, and refinement to the textural profile, finishing with lifted red fruits, orange zest, and just a hint white pepper on the classically-styled backend. The oak already feels well integrated into the wine. The wine blends 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. 13% ABV. Yields were only 26 hectoliters per hectare. Harvesting took place September 24 – October 10. Drink from 2028-2047. 92-94 Pts
2024 Leoville Poyferre Pavillon de Léoville – St. Julien – Strawberries, cherries, currants, and flowers in the nose, are followed by a forward, early-drinking, light/medium-bodied, red plum-filled wine that is already charming in your glass. The wine is produced from a blend of 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc, and 14% Petit Verdot.13% ABV. Drink from 2027-2034. 88-90 Pts
2024 Moulin-Riche – St. Julien – Flowers, cherries, tobacco, and cedar aromas are easy to find. The palate is light, but with soft, elegant fruits, and sweet, strawberries, cherries, and plums, with a hint of cocoa in the easy-to-like, charming finish. You can enjoy this on release, and for at least a decade, or more after that. The wine is a blend of 46% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, and 15% Petit Verdot.13% ABV. Drink from 2027-2037. 90-92 Pts
2024 Saint-Pierre – St. Julien – Licorice, espresso, cherries, licorice, and cigar box aromas form the nose. On the palate, the wine is open, fruity, fresh, and almost creamy, with chalky, mint tones accompanying the red currants in the finish. Give it just a year or two in the bottle, and it will be ready to go. 2024 marks the estate’s first certified organic vintage, along with a new, modernized logo. Drink from 2028-2040. 92-94 Pts
2024 Talbot – St. Julien – Blackberries, currants, and tobacco leaf open the medium-bodied wine. Juicy, and fresh, with black currants in every sniff, swirl, and sip, the wine will offer charm early, but, it will also have the ability to age for two decades with ease. The wine blends 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 41% Merlot.13% ABV. Drink from 2028-2045. 91-93 Pts
2024 Talbot Connetable – St. Julien – Cedar, and currants in the perfume, and mid-palate, with a soft, fresh, approachable finish that will provide instant pleasure on release. This is quite nice for easy, uncomplicated drinking. Drink from 2023-2031. 86-88 Pts
2024 Talbot Caillou Blanc – Bordeaux – Flowers, pomelo, vanilla, pears, and orange rind notes pop with ease in the perfume, and on the crisp, fruity palate. I like the lift and energy here. The wine blends 83% Sauvignon Blanc, and 17% Semillon, 13% ABV. Drink from 2027-2032. 92 Pts
Up next, we continue our look at 2024 Bordeaux with 2024 Margaux, followed by 2024 Pessac Leognan along with more exclusive producer quotes as well.
