CHÂTEAU BRANAIRE DUCRU
2011 4ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
| Colour | Red |
| Origin | France, Bordeaux |
| Sub-district | Haut Médoc |
| Village | Saint Julien |
| Classification | 4ème Cru Classé |
| ABV | 14% |
67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Just over 13% Alc. Nose is quite soft. Soft red fruits, supple, round, easy attack, good fruit. There is a solidity of tannin in the mid-palate, a flow-reducing dryness, but this is classy, on the dry finesse of Cabernet. Rating: 92 L&S (Apr 2012)
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The 2011 Branaire-Ducru has a lot of concentration on the nose with blackberry, raspberry, tar and marine-scents bursting from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, quite dense and grippy, but here I find the finish a little tannic and austere, plus it lacks a bit of length. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting. Drinking range: 2022 - 2032 Rating: 88 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Apr 2022)
Bright, deep ruby-red. Sappy aromas of raspberry, blackcurrant and sweet spices are complicated by an intense note of violet. Bright and juicy in the mouth, offering excellent volume for the vintage as well as noteworthy floral lift to the fresh dark currant and plum flavors. The wine's sappy quality gives it good inner-mouth energy and early deliciousness, even if it lacks the structure of the best vintages. On the other hand, by avoiding overextraction the lovely 2011 Branaire-Ducru offers plenty of early appeal. Rating: 89 Ian d'Agata, www.vinousmedia.com (Jul 2014)
Excellent density of purplish crimson. Thick and sweet and distinctly modern on the nose. Rather tiring finish. 2020-2030 Rating: 16 Jancis Robinson OBE MW - www.JancisRobinson.com (May 2012)
Château Branaire Ducru
St Julien Quatrième cru 1855 When the Beychevelle estate was broken up in 1642, in order to pay off the debts of the deceased owner, it gave birth to three Châteaux - Beychevelle, Ducru-Beaucaillou and, the portion purchased by Jean-Baptiste Braneyre, Branaire-Ducru. Jean-Baptiste's daughter married Pierre de Luc and their descendents (morphing into the Duluc family during the Revolution) owned Branaire until 1919. Branaire failed to excite much until it was bought by Patrick Maroteaux in 1988. Since then Branaire-Ducru has become a reliably good buy for lovers of St Julien. The vineyards are planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and 4% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. While the number of family-owned châteaux is becoming increasingly smaller in the Médoc, the Maroteaux family has owned Branaire-Ducru since 1988. They immediatley put in a stat of the art gravity fed cellar - designed in a revolutionary way along the lines of a spoked -wheel - with all the tanks fanning out from a central control space up above. In 2017 it still looks cutting edge - and it is easy to understand how the wines are made so well here. Very sadly on November 19, 2017, Patrick Maroteaux passed away at the age of 67. His son, François Xavier Maroteaux took over the full time responsibilities of managing the estate and is committed to keeping up the great work being done here. Every year they strive to retain their ‘home signature’ of 'pure fruit, freshness and balance' and although you can always sense the vintage variations - this ambition is always clear. The Grand Vin has a focus and an elegance that is intrinsically 'Branaire' - and the pricing remains well measured. Branaire-Ducru is very often one of our recommended wines as it can offer super value for money in St Julien.
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RELATED PRODUCTS
1996 CHÂTEAU LÉOVILLE BARTON 2ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
Left Bank Bordeaux France 13% Red
Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon.
The 1996 Leoville Barton appears more youthful than the 1996 Langoa Barton in the glass with a healthy deep garnet core. The aromatics unfurl gracefully in the glass revealing briary, wild hedgerow, black truffle and san...(read more)
Neal Martin, www.vinous.comORDER COLLECT
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