Château Branaire-Ducru 2022

The firmness and complexity of a great Saint-Julien red wine

The estate

Grand Cru Classé in 1855, Château Branaire-Ducru is one of the great names in the Saint-Julien appellation. Owned by François Xavier Maroteaux, son of the late Patrick Maroteaux, and managed by Jean-Dominique Videau, Château Branaire-Ducru offers, vintage after vintage, a superb expression of this great terroir on Bordeaux's Left Bank, with wines renowned for their elegance, velvety texture on the palate and consistency.

The vineyard

Château Branaire-Ducru 2022 is a Saint-Julien wine from a 60-hectare vineyard. The vines, which are on average 35 years old (though some are a hundred years old), are planted on Quaternary gravelly-siliceous alluvial soils. This is recognised as one of the warmest terroirs in the region, allowing the late-ripening grape varieties to develop and ensuring perfect phenolic ripening.

The vintage

A relatively wet winter helped replenish water reserves in the soil. The slightly early budburst was followed by frost in early April, which caused slight damage to plots that had budded early. The warm spring weather encouraged rapid vegetative development. Although flowering was uniform at the end of May under dry conditions, rainfall in June, sometimes accompanied by thunderstorms and hail, had a local impact on the vines. Thanks to sufficient water reserves in winter and spring, the vineyards withstood a particularly dry summer. Despite these "sunny" conditions, the vines were resilient, apart from the youngest plants. Small in size, the grapes were exceptionally rich and fresh, with a high phenolic potential. One of the greatest vintages of the last twenty years.

Blend

Cabernet Sauvignon (60,5%)
Merlot (31,5%)
Cabernet Franc (5,5%)
Petit Verdot (2,5%).

Characteristics and tasting tips for Château Branaire-Ducru 2022

Tasting

Colour
The colour has a beautiful depth.

Nose
The nose is complex, mingling subtly fruity (black fruit) fragrances with delicious spicy notes transferred from the ageing process.

Palate
A full, supple and wonderfully vivacious attack gives way to a rich and profound palate. The finish is lingering, with a delightful aromatic palette.