Branaire Ducru 2010

St Julien, Fourth Growth

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Tasting Notes
A layered young red with lots of black olives and berries on the nose. Full body, with velvety and chewy tannins. It all comes together at the end with a lovely sweet fruit. Try after 2017. Score: 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2017+ 04 February 2013
This wine is more backward than I would have normally expected, but nevertheless, it is very impressive. The 2010 Branaire-Ducru displays an inky bluish purple color and loads of mulberry, raspberry, black currant, graphite and floral notes in its intense aromatics. Medium to full-bodied , with sensational ripeness, purity, texture and length, the tannins are slightly more prominent than I remember from barrel, but they are sweet and ripe (as opposed to astringent and bitter). This beautiful wine needs 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep 25-30 years. Score: 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2047 01 February 2013
Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux has completed a decade of brilliant performances at this chateau across the Medoc’s Route de Vin from Beychevelle and a stone’s throw from Ducru Beaucaillou, St.-Pierre and Gloria. A fabulous effort, the 2010's notes of raspberry jam, black currants, crushed rocks and spring flowers are followed by a wine of impeccable purity, medium to full-bodied power, sweet tannin and stunning texture and length. With superb richness and beautiful overall equilibrium, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for 25 or more years. Score: 93 - 95 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 04 May 2011
Cedary cassis fragrance and some sweeter fruit too. Oaky, chocolatey palate. Smooth and juicy and quite light on the finish even though it is long. Fine texture, dry restraint. Score: 16 - 17 Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2028 10 April 2012
Deep crimson. Fresh and dense - very glamorous! Rich, opulent start. Not the most concentrated on the end but very nicely constituted and rewarding. Score: 17 - 18 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2030 12 May 2011
Tasted 17 Feb: Very dark purple. Nice freshness on the nose. Very round and supple and polished. Opulent without being sweet. All assembled by end Feb with about 9% vin de presse. More approachable than most of the 2010s I have tasted so far. Fresh and the fruit almost disguises the marked tannins on the finish. Stricter selection than usual. Dry - very dry summer. 41 hl/ha compared to 47 hl/ha in 2009. Small berries. Tasted blind 8 Apr: Very sweet, almost Marmite aromas. Great freshness but no great intensity on the palate. A little angular with some green notes on the finish but a competent wine. Relaxed and comfortable. Not forced. (Score: 16.5 18-34) Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2030 19 April 2011
Exciting fresh raspberry nose. On the palate very expressive fruits, summer pudding with a hint of mocha. Medium bodied with a supple texture and a firm finish. An already approachable 2010 but with the concentration and structure to last. Score: 91 - 93 Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2011
Tasted at the chateau and the UGC, the Branaire Ducru is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23.5% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot including 10% of the vin de presse. It has 13.8% alcohol with a pH of 3.53. The nose is very primal compared to other samples with high-toned dark cherries, dark plum and cassis. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tensile tannins, very good acidity and precision; not a wine of dimension like Ducru Beaucaillou but I like the subtle touch of spiciness interlacing the finish. Very fine. Drink 2014- Tasted March 2011. Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014+ 15 April 2011
Lots of depth and already showing fragrance and complexity, perfect concentration and refreshing, harmonious length, another great wine from the château on top of its form. Score: 17 - 18 Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2018-2030 01 April 2011
This has guts, offering dark fig, plum and cocoa notes carried by velvety but substantial tannins, with a very long, smoke- and plum sauce-filled finish that has well-embedded acidity. Score: 92 - 95 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 31 March 2011

Tasting Notes

A layered young red with lots of black olives and berries on the nose. Full body, with velvety and chewy tannins. It all comes together at the end with a lovely sweet fruit. Try after 2017.

Score: 94

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Maturity: 2017+ 04 February 2013

This wine is more backward than I would have normally expected, but nevertheless, it is very impressive. The 2010 Branaire-Ducru displays an inky bluish purple color and loads of mulberry, raspberry, black currant, graphite and floral notes in its intense aromatics. Medium to full-bodied , with sensational ripeness, purity, texture and length, the tannins are slightly more prominent than I remember from barrel, but they are sweet and ripe (as opposed to astringent and bitter). This beautiful wine needs 4-6 years of cellaring and should keep 25-30 years.

Score: 94

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2017-2047 01 February 2013

Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux has completed a decade of brilliant performances at this chateau across the Medoc’s Route de Vin from Beychevelle and a stone’s throw from Ducru Beaucaillou, St.-Pierre and Gloria. A fabulous effort, the 2010's notes of raspberry jam, black currants, crushed rocks and spring flowers are followed by a wine of impeccable purity, medium to full-bodied power, sweet tannin and stunning texture and length. With superb richness and beautiful overall equilibrium, it will benefit from 4-5 years of cellaring and keep for 25 or more years.

Score: 93 - 95

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 04 May 2011

Cedary cassis fragrance and some sweeter fruit too. Oaky, chocolatey palate. Smooth and juicy and quite light on the finish even though it is long. Fine texture, dry restraint.

Score: 16 - 17

Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2028 10 April 2012

Deep crimson. Fresh and dense - very glamorous! Rich, opulent start. Not the most concentrated on the end but very nicely constituted and rewarding.

Score: 17 - 18

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2018-2030 12 May 2011

Tasted 17 Feb: Very dark purple. Nice freshness on the nose. Very round and supple and polished. Opulent without being sweet. All assembled by end Feb with about 9% vin de presse. More approachable than most of the 2010s I have tasted so far. Fresh and the fruit almost disguises the marked tannins on the finish. Stricter selection than usual. Dry - very dry summer. 41 hl/ha compared to 47 hl/ha in 2009. Small berries. Tasted blind 8 Apr: Very sweet, almost Marmite aromas. Great freshness but no great intensity on the palate. A little angular with some green notes on the finish but a competent wine. Relaxed and comfortable. Not forced. (Score: 16.5 18-34)

Score: 17

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2017-2030 19 April 2011

Exciting fresh raspberry nose. On the palate very expressive fruits, summer pudding with a hint of mocha. Medium bodied with a supple texture and a firm finish. An already approachable 2010 but with the concentration and structure to last.

Score: 91 - 93

Albany Vintners, - 27 April 2011

Tasted at the chateau and the UGC, the Branaire Ducru is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23.5% Merlot, 4.5% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot including 10% of the vin de presse. It has 13.8% alcohol with a pH of 3.53. The nose is very primal compared to other samples with high-toned dark cherries, dark plum and cassis. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tensile tannins, very good acidity and precision; not a wine of dimension like Ducru Beaucaillou but I like the subtle touch of spiciness interlacing the finish. Very fine. Drink 2014- Tasted March 2011.

Score: 91 - 93

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014+ 15 April 2011

Lots of depth and already showing fragrance and complexity, perfect concentration and refreshing, harmonious length, another great wine from the château on top of its form.

Score: 17 - 18

Decanter, Decanter.com Maturity: 2018-2030 01 April 2011

This has guts, offering dark fig, plum and cocoa notes carried by velvety but substantial tannins, with a very long, smoke- and plum sauce-filled finish that has well-embedded acidity.

Score: 92 - 95

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 31 March 2011

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