Chateau Branaire Ducru Saint Julien 2006

Vintage: 2006

Producer: Chteau Branaire Ducru

Region: Bordeaux

Country: France

Appellation: Saint Julien

Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

Style: Full-bodied, complex red

Food Match: Rich Meats

ABV: 13%

A superlative performance from Branaire Ducru, way above my previous appraisals for Mon. Maroutouxs Saint Julien estate. It remains austere on the nose: blackberry, damson, even a touch of marmalade developing with aeration. Moderate definition. The palate is medium-bodied, ripe tannins, very powerful and intense, toasty black fruit laced with tar and graphite with a tannic, bold finish that demands more cellaring. Excellent.

Chteau Branaire Ducru is located in the Saint Julient appellation of Bordeaux, opposite Chteau Beychevelle. Many of the vines in the 120 acres of vineyards are over 35 years old and the harvests are picked by hand. These vineyards are planted with a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon (Around 70%) with the other grape varieties being the classic Bordeaux blends of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Chteau Branaire Ducru was taken over in the late 80s by Patrick Maroteaux, who says his philosophy is the 3Fs – Fruit, Freshness and Finesse. Wines from Chteau Branaire Ducru are usually described as supple, elegant and complex. The chteau has a second wine called Duluc de Branaire-Ducru.