Chateau Branaire-Ducru Saint-Julien (Grand Cru Classé) 2016

Owned by the Maroteaux family since 1988, Château Branaire Ducru is a sure bet in the Saint Julien appellation. This relatively confidential production (only 12,000 cases) is a must in the Médoc for all lovers of Saint Julien wines.

After manual harvesting, the grapes are vinified in temperature-controlled stainless steel vats. Each plot is vinified in a vat of suitable size and the vats are filled by gravity. The wines are aged in barrels for 16 to 20 months with 60 to 65% new oak. The wines of Château Branaire-Ducru display a burst of fruit, finesse and suppleness characteristic of the property.

This Fourth Growth St Julien estate has been performing consistently well for the past several vintages and 2016 is no exception.

Wine Advocate-Parker :

The 2016 Branaire-Ducru is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc picked from 28 September until 19 October at 50 hectoliters per hectare, one of the longest harvest periods at the estate. The nose is quite intense with black fruit infused with pencil shaving and a touch of tobacco, unashamedly classic in style, a little distant compared to some other Saint Juliens but undeniably well defined and full of character. The palate is structured and masculine, exerting a firm grip in the mouth, spicier than its peers with cracked black pepper complementing the black fruit, tobacco and smoke towards the structured finish. There is great length here, very persistent in the mouth, a little rougher in texture than others, but that will be smoothed out during élevage and in bottle. Give this Branaire-Ducru five or six years in bottle because it has great potential, one of the best produced at the estate in recent years. (NB This sample was taken from a new barrel, though the final blend will be 60%.)

Awards :

2 / 3 Le Guide Hachette

94 Parker Wine Advocate

94 Decanter

96 Wine Spectator

95 James Suckling

96 Jean-Marc Quarin

93 Vinous

94 Wine Decider

17 /20 Jancis Robinson

20 / 20 Bettane et Desseauve