Château Branaire-Ducru
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Château Branaire-Ducru is a winery in the appellation of Saint-Julien in the Bordeaux region of France. Château Branaire-Ducru is also the name of the red wine produced by this property. The château was classified as one of the ten Fourth Growths (Quatrièmes Crus) in the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.
[edit] Vineyard
Although the Branaire-Ducru's château is located on the southern border of the appellation, across from Château Beychevelle, the vineyards of the estate are spread out throughout the appellation. In total, the vineyards cover 120 acres (about 50 hectares), with the majority of plantings devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon (70%), followed by Merlot (22%), Cabernet Franc (5%), and a small amount of Petit Verdot. The vines average 35 years of age and are harvested by hand.
[edit] The Wine
Château Branaire-Ducru produces two wines, its eponymous grand vin averages about 15,000 cases per year. Branaire uses a novel for the area gravity-flow style winery to minimize damage to the grapes as they are processed through the winery. The wines go through primary fermentation for about three weeks in temperature controlled stainless steel vats. About 1/3 of the production undergoes malolactic fermentation in new oak barrels. Once fermentation is complete the wines are transferred into oak barrels, 50% new, for 18-24 months of aging. The estate also produces about 7,000 cases of its second wine, Château Duluc, which consists of lots produced from younger vines or are of lower quality.
Good vintages include 1982, 1989, 1996, 2000, 2001, and 2003. Poor vintages include 1984, 1995, 1998, and 2002.
Château Branaire-Ducru was entered in the St. Catharines Wine Tasting of 2005, placing sixth in the field of 16 wines and the highest of any French entry in the wine competition.
