2019 Branaire Ducru
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Tasting notes
One of the more discreet St Juliens, undergoing a great resurgence right now, and this stands out for its quality and value. Tobacco leaf, baked earth, crushed rocks, crayon and mint leaf set against blueberry and cassis fruits. Balanced, with the finesse of the appellation. Ideally this is put away for another four years or so, but it has the delicacy that makes it just about approachable if you can't wait. I drank it with friends a few months ago, and nobody was complaining. 43hl/h yield.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc. Very dark with crimson rim. Intensely Cabernet cassis on the nose. Dark and a little charry. Dry tannic finesse but a slightly sour aftertaste, the acid not quite meshed. (JH)
The 2019 Branaire Ducru has a fresh and vibrant bouquet, very well defined with beautifully integrated oak, quite precise graphite-infused black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a ferrous opening, gritty in texture, quite edgy and sharp with an almost citrus fresh, tensile finish. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold annual tasting.
Tasted blind. Deep, luscious crimson. Rich, tea-leaf nose and lots of vigour. Marked acidity, but lots of fruit and tannin too. But not incredibly tightly knit. (JR)
About the producer
This Fourth Growth estate, just a stone’s throw from the wide expanse of the Gironde estuary, has been revitalised under the stewardship of former banker and businessman Patrick Maroteaux, who purchased the property in 1988.