Tuesday 22 April 

There used to be a bit of a gap between our en primeur tasting week and the first releases, but no more. Last week we were tasting 2024s in Bordeaux, and this morning sees the first release of the campaign - Pauillac classic and staunch Uncorked favourite Chateau Batailley. From its extremely gravelly spot on the plateau, Batailley has achieved a long-standing reputation for offering absolute Pauillac typicity at a very fair price. 2024 saw the property celebrate 100 years in the hands of the Borie-Castéja family, and the 2024 vintage is released with a special anniversary label - not to mention the possibility to buy single boxed bottles in the chubby 225cl Marie-Jeanne format, for a bit of table theatre. The roots of this property go back much further than 100 years; the name evokes one of the last French-English battles of the Hundred Years War, which took place on the site of the modern vineyards. 

Wednesday 23 April 

Pontet-Canet has been a trailblazer. It was one of the very first classed growths to convert to biodynamic viticulture, no easy thing in damp Bordeaux. It led the way in innovations that have since become widespread, including plot-by-plot vinification and amphorae for raising the wine. It is released today at a 9% discount on last year's price. Writing today on robertparker.com, William Kelley has scored it as one of the joint top wines of the vintage. 

Thursday 24 April 

There is a crown on each corner of the Branaire-Ducru label, alluding to the noble families of four previous owners. Things have been quietly at this St-Julien fourth growth. There is a whole new cellar with double the number of vats, allowing a much more precise approach to plot-by-plot vinification. The winery is gravity-fed. Yields have been cut back even as the vineyard has been slightly expanded.  

Unlike many Bordeaux chateau owners, François-Xavier Maroteaux is an understated fellow. But he couldn’t help but looked pleased with himself when he showed us his 2024. ‘It was a vintage when you needed to harvest at the perfect date for each plot. It’s expensive work to be so precise!’ Despite the costs, 2024 Branaire-Ducru is released this morning at a 17% discount on last year’s price. It’s a classy wine with energy, fine tannins, and a lifted finish - and it’s hard to imagine a better glass of St-Julien typicité at the price.