2022 · Château Branaire-Ducru

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.