Chateau Branaire-Ducru 2016

A Saint-Julien red wine with seductive density and finesse

The estate

An 1855 Grand Cru Classe, Chateau Branaire-Ducru is one of the great names in the Saint-Julien appellation. Owned by the Maroteaux family, Chateau Branaire-Ducru offers, vintage after vintage, a superb expression of this great terroir, situated on the left bank of Bordeaux. The estate produces wines that are renowned for their elegance, their velvety texture on the palate and their consistency.

The vineyard

A benchmark among the finest Saint-Julien wines, Chateau Branaire-Ducru watches over a 59-hectare vineyard. The vines are 35 years old on average and are planted on gravelly hilltops (gravel and pebbles).

The vintage

The climatic conditions throughout the 2016 vintage led to the production of a high-quality wine. The cool, wet spring enabled the vines to achieve an outstanding balance. The dry and sunny weather at the beginning of June triggered a beautiful flowering period. The dry summer season led to significant water stress and gave the grapes a rich color and tannins. The three days of rain from the 13th to the 16th of September enabled the grapes to reach an optimal ripeness level before the harvest. The weather conditions during the harvest from September 28th to October 19th were ideal.

Vinification and aging

The wine is aged in barrels for an average of 16 to 20 months, with a proportion of 60 to 65% new wood.

The blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (64%)

Merlot (27%)

Petit Verdot (6%)

Cabernet Franc (3%).

Chateau Branaire-Ducru 2016: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Color

This wine showcases a beautiful deep color.

Nose

Complex and expressive, the nose exudes ripe fruit fragrances and is rich, precise and fresh.

Palate

The attack is rich. The tannic structure combines a great finesse with a bold density. The finish is long and precise. An exceptionally dense and fine wine which is among one of the finest vintages in the history of the estate.