2020 · Château Branaire-Ducru
Château Branaire‑Ducru
Red · Saint-Julien, France
Fruit-forward
Dry · Bold structured · Smooth · Full-bodied
Technical details
Vinification & maturation
Hand-picked and sortedParcel-by-parcel fermentationGravity-fed vats16 –20 months oak60 –65% new oakFrench forest oaklightly toasted
Grapes
Cabernet SauvignonMerlotPetit VerdotCabernet Franc
Soils
ClayGravelAlluvial
Producer
Château Branaire‑Ducru
France
Branaire-Ducru is a family-owned fourth-growth estate in Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, owned by the Maroteaux family since 1988 and now managed by François-Xavier Maroteaux. A Grand Cru Classé of 1855, it combines historic roots with a modern gravity-flow winery designed for parcel-by-parcel vinification, with Jean-Dominique Videau overseeing blends since 2002. The estate emphasizes meticulous sustainable farming, including responsible agriculture, organic-inspired trials, biocontrol, and environmental commitments such as ISO 14001 and HVE level 3. Manual harvesting, château bottling, and extended barrel ageing support a house style defined by fruit, freshness, and restrained elegance.