Chateau Branaire-Ducru

Chateau Branaire-Ducru


Branaire-Ducru was born in 1680. Prior to that, it had been part of the much larger Beychevelle estate. That estate was broken up to settle debts, and several smaller estates emerged. One was acquired by a Jean-Baptiste Braneyre, who gave his surname to it, but it would take another 200 years before a subsequent owner appended his own surname ‘Ducru’. By the early 20th century, this was a neglected, run-down property. Corporate investors stepped in after World War II; in 1988, a whole new era began when Patrick Maroteaux bought Branaire and invested time, money and energy improving it. He died suddenly in 2017, and his son Francois-Xavier was thrust into the driving seat. It is a position he has filled admirably; Branaire-Ducru has never been better.

Branaire does not comprise one contiguous estate, but a disparate variety of plots across the whole gravelly St-Julien terroir. The vineyards are planted to 70 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon, 22 per cent Merlot, 5 per cent Petit Verdot and a 3 per cent dollop of Cabernet Franc. The average age of the vines is 40, although there are a few that are over a hundred. Things have changed a lot in recent years. yields have been cut back quite drastically, and a new winery arrived in 2010 along with gravity-fed winemaking. What was a good, reliable wine is fast becoming an exciting and very desirable one. The four crowns on the corners of the label allude to the noble families of four previous owners. (NT 11/08/23)

There are currently no wines for this area.