Branaire Ducru St Julien 4eme Cru 2011

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Branaire Ducru
Label Name:
 
St Julien 4eme Cru
Vintage:
 
2011
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Saint-Julien, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
Acidity:
 
4
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Wine Enthusiast 94 (2014); Wine Spectator 92 (2012); James Suckling 92-93 (2012); Wine Advocate/Robert Parker 91-93 (range reported); Jancis Robinson 16/20

Tasting Note
Blackcurrant and blackberry core with cedar, pencil-lead and graphite notes; medium–full body, silky yet firm tannins, bright acidity and a long, mineral-tinged finish.

Food Pairing
Western: roast lamb, beef stew, grilled ribeye, aged cheeses (Comté, Manchego). Asian: Cantonese roast duck, Peking duck, Korean BBQ (galbi), beef noodle soup, Cantonese-style braised beef.

Production Method
Hand-harvested; temperature-controlled stainless-steel fermentation with ~3-week maceration; aged ~18 months in French oak (≈60% new); gravity-fed vat handling.

Vineyard Info
Fourth Growth (1855) Saint-Julien estate owned by the Maroteaux family since 1988. ~60 ha, gravels over clay, focus on Cabernet-led, modern gravity-flow cellar and sustainable practices.