Chateau Branaire-Ducru Saint-Julien 2020 96pts

96 Points Vinous
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

94 Points Wine Enthusiast
Rich, juicy and with dense tannins, this wine is full of generous blackberry fruit flavor. The tannins and impressive structure are what show promise for the future. Expect this wine to age well.

94 Points James Suckling
A polished, creamy red with blue fruit, such as blackcurrants, and pretty, ripe and fine tannins that fill your mouth.

94 Points Wine Spectator
This has a lovely floral lead followed quickly by a very pure and precise beam of cassis and bitter plum fruit. Shows ample structure but this is fine-grained and almost silky in feel, while subtle dark tea, savory and iron notes peek through on the lengthy finish.

93 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2020 Branaire-Ducru displays a deep garnet-purple color and pronounced blackcurrant cordial, plum preserves and boysenberries scents, plus hints of sautéed herbs, unsmoked cigars and graphite. The medium-bodied palate has a lot of verve, delivering appealing tension among the tightly wound black fruits and grainy tannins, finishing with an herbal lift.

93 Points Decanter
Blueberry, blackberry, damson and hawthorn, this has juice and tannins with an elegance and really excellent St-Julien character; A lovely Branaire, well placed. Unfussy, this is still not overly exuberant but it has a real sense of sappiness, lift and sinew. 3% Cabernet Franc completes the blend.

93 Points Jeb Dunnuck
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.

Wine Notes
Flavors of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, tobacco, and spices. Medium to full body, with structured and firm tannis, and a long complex finish. It is expected to age well and develop further complexity with time in the bottle.

Blend: 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc.

Provenance Guarantee
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The history of Château Branaire-Ducru dates back several centuries and is intertwined with the rich winemaking heritage. 17th-18th centuries: The estate that would later become Château Branaire-Ducru was originally part of the vast Beychevelle estate, which was one of the oldest and most prestigious vineyard holdings in the Saint-Julien appellation. The vineyards were owned by Jean-Baptiste Braneyre, who later passed them down to his son, Pierre Braneyre.

19th century: In 1855, the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification was established, and Château Branaire-Ducru was classified as a Fourth Growth (Quatrième Cru Classé), a testament to its high quality wines. In 1860, the estate was acquired by Gustave Ducru, who combined his surname with the Braneyre family name to form the current name "Branaire-Ducru".

20th century: The estate changed hands several times throughout the 20th century, with different owners managing the vineyards and making improvements to the winemaking practices. In 1988, Patrick Maroteaux, a businessman and wine lover, acquired Château Branaire-Ducru and embarked on a mission

The 2020 vintage made from a blend of grape varieties, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.