Chāteau Branaire-Ducru - St.-Julien 2020

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Chāteau Branaire-Ducru Description

Chateau Branaire-Ducru's 120 acres is located in the St. Julien region of France and has such famous neighbors as Cheateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou and Chateau Beychevelle.

The name, given by the former owner Monsieur Ducru, means "beautiful pebbles". One of the main features of the vineyard is its richness in pebbles which contribute to the greatness of so many wines of the Medoc.

Composed primarily of Cabernet Sauvignon, our wines express their character year in, year out with great regularity, displaying an enormous amount of fruit, freshness, and subtlety. The winemaking team is fully devoted to highlighting these characteristics in every vintage, and Branaire-Ducru is invariably an elegant wine and a quintessential Saint-Julien.

James Suckling: 96 Points

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.

Vinous: 94-96 Points

The 2020 Branaire-Ducru is utterly magnificent. A wine of extraordinary depth and dimension, the 2020 possesses tremendous intensity right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice, cloves and lavender build as into the explosive, palate-staining finish. I don't think I have ever tasted a Branaire quite like this. -Antonio Galloni
Barrel Sample: 94-96

Jeb Dunnuck: 93 Points

Showing beautifully, the deeper purple/ruby-hued 2020 Chateau 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. Best After 2027. Rating: 93+