Chateau Branaire-Ducru

Chateau Branaire-Ducru boasts one of Bordeaux's most storied histories, dating back to the late 17th century when Jean-Baptiste Braneyre bought a piece of land from the prestigious Beychevelle estate. Originally classified as a Fourth Growth estate in the 1855 classification, Branaire-Ducru has quietly risen from the ashes to become one of Bordeaux's top names. With the onset of the Maroteaux family in the 1980s, the brand continues to push limits and stake a claim in French winemaking. 

Chateau Branaire Ducru: Bordeaux History

In 1680, Jean-Baptiste Braneyre and his family purchased a sect of Chateau Beychevelle, after its owners were forced to sell some of the land due to incurred debts. For multiple generations, Chateau Branaire Ducru remained in the Braneyre family's hands, eventually being passed to the Du Luc family when Marie Braneyre married Pierre de Luc. The pair built the estate's first chateau in 1824 and planted the deep gravel soils with cabernet sauvignon, a signature move in the famed Saint Julien appellation. The beautiful neo-classical building still stands on the property and acts as a symbol of Branaire-Ducru's immaculate Bordeaux legacy. 

It was in 1988 when Branaire-Ducru took its modern form. Former banker Patrick Maroteaux and his family acquired the estate and embarked on a massive renovation. From replanting vines, upgrading the vat house and cellar, and remodeling the chateau, Maroteaux was on a mission to bring this once-overlooked Fourth Growth estate to the top of Bordeaux's ranks. To further its rise, Maroteaux brought in a young Philippe Dhaulluin, who has since become director of Mouton-Rothschild. 

Chateau Branaire Ducru St. Julien Terroir

With prime terroir between Margaux and Pauillac in the St. Julien appellation, Branaire-Ducru is home to deep gravel and clay soils. The terroir is split into 15 micro terroirs across 60 hectares of land in one of the warmer parts of the region. Located on the appellation's hills, which overlook the Gironde River, pebbles are deposited into the vineyard, helping to produce beautifully ripe fruit. The vines are 35 years old on average and grow in gravel alluvium, while some vines reach as high as 90 years old. The split between varieties is meticulously planted by Branaire-Ducru, with each type contributing a special essence to the final blend. The breakdown is as follows:

• 65% is planted with cabernet sauvignon, adding to the wine's fruity and fresh palate
• 28% is planted with merlot, making the wine round and supple
• 4% is planted with petit verdot, adding spicy hints to the blend
• 3% is planted with cabernet franc, building on the wine's floral notes

Branaire Ducru Winemaking & Vinification

Chateau Branaire Ducru employs biodynamic farming on the vineyard and has been certified as High Environmental Value (HVE) since 2017. Its motto, "Grown in the ground, crafted by man," is taken to heart in each step of the vinification process, as Xavier Maroteaux has gained a reputation as one of St. Julien's strictest owners.

During each harvest, every parcel is picked by hand and sorted on a table to ensure only the most perfect grapes are used. Once selected, the fruit is processed in tanks of different sizes, and different varieties are kept separate. The wine is then aged in oak barrels made from timber from the best French forests and matured for at least 18 months. The estate is also pursuing a 100% new gravity-fed vat room after acquiring a modern gravity-fed vat room in 1991, which was revolutionary for its time. These rooms allow Branaire-Ducru to eliminate the need to pump out grapes and instead allow for parcel-by-parcel vinification. 

Jean-Dominique Videau has been the estate's head winemaker since 2002, combining different grape varieties for each vintage and creating self-proclaimed "haute couture wines." Ultimately, fruit, freshness, and elegance are the three words that define Branaire-Ducru wines.

Chateau Branaire Ducru: Top Vintages

Branaire Ducru 2018

As Branaire-Ducru grows in stature year-over-year, many critics agree that the 2018 vintage was arguably the estate's peak. It was a hot and dry summer- one of the earliest on record- while the winter and spring saw heavy rainfall, allowing the ground to absorb lots of water. The final bottle comprised 58% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 5% petit verdot, and 4% cabernet franc. Its taste was defined by wonderful freshness, exceptional depth, and great finesse and balance. Neal Martin encapsulated this brilliance, noting the drink "indicates a family that is finding a new lease on life." This statement was very profound, as Patrick Maroteaux passed away the year prior, leaving his son, Xavier, in charge of the estate.

However, critic James Suckling put it best of all when stating the 2018 vintage was "perhaps the greatest Branaire-Ducru ever made." With such stellar acclaim, how could any wine enthusiast pass up on this vintage? 

Branaire Ducru 2010

As one of Bordeaux's greatest vintages, the 2010 Branaire Ducru did not disappoint. This stellar wine joined the ranks of other top-class St. Julien releases, as the bottle was acclaimed for its juicy tannins, elegant mouthfeel, and intense floral and graphite aromatics. Mirroring its beloved neighbor, Chateau Beychevelle, both estates display the exceptional terroir of St. Julien and are expected to age beautifully in the cellar for another 10-15 years.

Branaire Ducru 1995

Now three decades old, the 1995 Chateau Branaire Ducru still stands as one of Maroteaux's finest early efforts, signalling a long-term change in the estate's pedigree. Released to a coveted 90-point score from Robert Parker, the critic took note of the wine's immense aging ability, also celebrating the family's "elegant, restrained, finesse school of winemaking."

Chateau Branaire Ducru: Affordable Wines for your Cellar

A rarity for most classed Bordeaux estates, Branaire Ducru wines are priced accessibly for drinkers looking for St. Julien elegance without breaking the bank. As one of the region's top blends from a prime terroir, a bottle of Chateau Branaire Ducru is the perfect bottle to grab for your cellar.