Château Branaire-Ducru · Saint-Julien · 2020 · 750ml
Château Branaire-Ducru 2020 combines cassis, plum and floral aromas with a concentrated core of fruit and fine, youthful tannins. The 2020 reviews emphasize depth, balance and a long finish, offering a structured Saint-Julien with both freshness and aging potential.
Producer & Terroir
The estate's history begins in 1680, when Jean-Baptiste Braneyre purchased part of Beychevelle. His descendants, the Du Luc family, built the château in 1824; it later passed to Gustave Ducru and remained in the family until 1919. Branaire-Ducru was classified a fourth growth in 1855. Patrick Maroteaux acquired it in 1988 and invested in the vineyards, cellar and château; François-Xavier Maroteaux took over in 2017.
Located between Margaux and Pauillac, the estate covers 60 hectares across about fifteen micro-terroirs in southern Saint-Julien. Gravel, pebbles and Quaternary alluvial soils favor Cabernet Sauvignon, while Merlot grows on clay. The estate reports an average vine age of 35 years and vineyard plantings of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. These are vineyard proportions, not the 2020 blend.
The estate reports HVE level 3 certification since 2017 and participation in the Bordeaux Wine Environmental Management System, based on ISO 14001, with certification since 2020. Later developments include the Cultivons Demain CSR label, level 2, in 2023 and a new gravity-fed vat room with 65 suspended vats in 2024; that vat room postdates this wine.
Expert Reviews · Vintage 2020
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate · 94 Points The 2020 Branaire-Ducru will require more patience than the supple, sensual 2019, but it is another strong effort for this overperforming estate. Wafting from the glass with 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.
Jeb Dunnuck · 93+ Points Showing beautifully, the deeper purple/ruby-hued 2020 Château Branaire-Ducru offers a deep, masculine bouquet of blackcurrants, plums, smoked tobacco, and iron. This 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. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades or more.
James Suckling · 96 Points · Vintage Not Specified 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.Changes a lot in the glass. Thoughtful young red.
Decanter · 95 Points · Vintage Not Specified An intensely perfumed nose with soft cocoa powder aromas. The texture is alluring, juicy and ripe but lifted, quite dense but also linear, a push-pull of direct fruit and chalky, plump tannins. Rich but not as supple as 2018, a bit more angular. Black cherries, plums and currants on the palate with both a nice sweetness and salinity. Not so easy to taste and understand today, it's thought provoking with lots going on. Great potential for a long life and one to watch!!
Wine Enthusiast · 95 Points · Vintage Not Specified Rich, juicy and with dense tannins, this wine is full of generous blackberry fruit flavor. The tannins and impressive structure are what show promise for the future. Expect this wine to age well. Barrel Sample: 93-95
Wine Spectator · 94 Points · Vintage Not Specified 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. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2038.
Winemaker Notes ·
Rich, intense color. An expressive nose, a sophisticated combination of pure black and red fruits. The palate is wonderfully smooth with powerful intensity, maintaining its fineness and elegance. A beautiful acidity, propelling the wine on a long finish.
Food Pairing Suggestions
Pair with roast lamb, grilled beef, braised short ribs or savory mushroom dishes. Rich, deeply flavored food complements the wine's concentrated fruit and tannic structure.
Details
- Producer: Château Branaire-Ducru
- Vintage: 2020
- Bottle Size: 750ml
- Country: France
- Region: Bordeaux
- Appellation: Saint-Julien
- Classification: Fourth Grand Cru Classé, 1855
- Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot
- Type: Red Bordeaux blend
- Estate Environmental Attributes: HVE level 3 since 2017; ISO 14001-based environmental certification since 2020
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