Branaire Ducru St Julien 4eme Cru 2018

Category:
 
Red Wines
Sub-Category:  
 
Red Wines
Producer:
 
Branaire Ducru
Label Name:
 
St Julien 4eme Cru
Vintage:
 
2018
Country:
 
France
Region:
 
Saint-Julien, Bordeaux
Volume:
 
750ml
ABV:
 
13.5%
Grape(s):
 
Cabernet Sauvignon 58%, Merlot 33%, Petit Verdot 5%, Cabernet Franc 4%
Acidity:
 
3
Tannins:
 
4
Sweetness:
 
1
Body:
 
4
Length:
 
4
Aroma Intensity:
 
4
Best Temperature:
 
16-18°C

Awards/Ratings
Vinous 96, James Suckling 97, Jeb Dunnuck 94, Wine Advocate 92–94, Decanter 93

Tasting Note
Blackcurrant, blackberry and plum with floral violet and cedar notes, sous-bois, tobacco and graphite. Silky, ripe tannins, bright acidity, medium–full body and a long, mineral finish.

Food Pairing
Roast lamb, beef ribs or steak, venison or game, mature hard cheeses; Asian pairings: Peking duck, Korean BBQ (bulgogi), char siu pork, soy/black bean braised beef or miso-glazed aubergine.

Production Method
Hand-harvested grapes; vinified by plot in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats (26–28°C) with ~3-week maceration, gravity transfers; aged 16–20 months in French oak (≈60% new).

Vineyard Info
Château Branaire-Ducru, a 4ème Cru Classé (1855) in Saint-Julien, c.60ha. Owned by the Maroteaux family since 1988; modernized estate with gravity-fed vat room and focus on sustainable viticulture.