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2020 Château Branaire-Ducru, 1.5ltr

Removed from a temperature and humidity controlled wine storage unit

2 available
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Ends Sunday, 7pm Pacific

RATINGS

96James Suckling

Plenty of blackberry, blueberry, lead pencil and violet aromas here that follow through to a full body, with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. So integrated and polished.

95+ Vinous / IWC

Dark red cherry, spice, grilled herbs, menthol and licorice emerge, but only with great reluctance. Sweet floral and spice notes lift the finish nicely.

94The Wine Advocate

...aromas of crème de cassis, plums, pencil shavings, petals, burning embers and discreet hints of new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of vibrant fruit and fine but youthfully firm tannins that assert themselves on the gently chewy finish.

94Wine Spectator

This has a lovely floral lead followed quickly by a very pure and precise beam of cassis and bitter plum fruit. Shows ample structure but this is fine-grained and almost silky in feel, while subtle dark tea, savory and iron notes peek through on the lengthy finish.

93+ Jeb Dunnuck

...deep, masculine bouquet of blackcurrants, plums, smoked tobacco, and iron...carries to a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, nicely balanced Saint-Julien with plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, integrated tannins, and a great finish.

16.5+ Jancis Robinson

Intense black fruit with a touch of oaky char giving a stony/mineral impression. Powerful, dense and with firm dry tannins.

PRODUCER

Château Branaire-Ducru

Château Branaire-Ducru is a Fourth Growth Bordeaux according to the official classification of 1855. The 123-acre estate is in St.-Julien-Beychevelle, on the left bank of the Gironde River. It is owned by the Marotteaux family and produces up to 180,000 bottles annually of its Château Branaire Ducru. The vineyards are planted to 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22 % Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. The estate dates back to the late 17th century, when it was acquired by Jean-Baptiste Braneyre. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that Branaire is “largely ignored by speculators, (but) is favored by wine drinkers…The finest vintages are magnificently scented, deep, rich wines that are as good as other top wines of St. Julien.” The estate's second wine is Duluc de Branaire-Ducru.

REGION

France, Bordeaux, St.-Julien

Saint-Julien is the smallest of the four main Médoc appellations with 2,175 acres of vineyards. It is just south of Pauillac on the left bank of the Gironde, and although it has no First Growth châteaux, its 11 Classified Growth estates are widely admired. Robert M. Parker Jr. has written that winemaking in Saint-Julien from all classifications “is consistently both distinctive and brilliant.” He adds it is Médoc’s “most underrated commune.” The best-known estates are Léoville Las Cases, Ducru-Beaucaillou, Léoville Poyferré, Léoville Barton and Gruaud Larose, and most of those have riverside estates. The soil in this appellation is gravelly with clay. Cabernet Sauvignon is the main grape grown, and it is blended with Cabernet Franc, Merlot and sometimes small amounts of Petit Verdot.

VINTAGE

2020 Château Branaire-Ducru