St-Julien 4ème Cru Château Branaire-Ducru is situated in the extreme south of the appellation just opposite an equally renowned Chateau Beychevelle and is appreciated for the Left Bank’s more ethereal expressions of Cabernet-led cuvées.
With the late owner Patrick Maroteaux’s extensive technical improvements introduced over the past twenty years at the chateau, Branaire-Ducru ranks indisputably among Saint-Julien’s finest.
The 2020 is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, grown in 60 Ha of deep, gravelly soil, having spent 16-20 months in 60-65% new oak. Fresh raspberry, red currant and graphite abound, with a well-defined, grippy structure that delivers chiselled, sweet and bitter blackberry on the finish.
Previous product 
Back to products 
2020 Chateau La Pointe, Pomerol 6x75cl £180 / Case£31 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
Next product 
2020 Chateau Laroque Grand Cru Classe, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 6x75cl £113.50 / Case£31 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Chateau Branaire-Ducru 4eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
Red ⋅ Bordeaux ⋅ France
£186 / Case£31 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
15 Available
Enquiry Description
Tasting Notes
Tasting Notes
Robert Parker 94-96
The 2020 Branaire-Ducru is utterly magnificent. A wine of extraordinary depth and dimension, the 2020 possesses tremendous intensity right out of the gate. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, new leather, licorice, cloves and lavender build as into the explosive, palate-staining finish. I don’t think I have ever tasted a Branaire quite like this.
Producer Profile
Producer Profile
Area under vines: 60 hectares
Soils: Deep quaternary gravels with clay in the subsoil
Average age of the vines: 35 years
Planting density: 6700 to 10 000 vines/ha
Production: 300 000 bottles a year
Ageing: in 60-65% new oak barrels for 12 to 20 months
Grape varieties:
- Cabernet Sauvignon 70%
- Merlot 22%
- Cabernet Franc 5%
- Petit Verdot 3%
Second wine: DULUC DE BRANAIRE-DUCRU
Learn more about Château Branaire Ducru
here
Wine Details
| Wine Type | |
|---|---|
| Country | |
| Region | |
| Subregion | |
| Vintage | |
| Producer | |
| Classification | |
| Bottle Size | |
| Pack Size | |
| Duty Status | |
| Availability |
Delivery & Storage
Delivery
We generally use specialised fine wine delivery couriers rather than standard couriers, giving a much higher level of care and accuracy in delivering fine wines safely to you. Wines can be delivered duty-paid to UK addresses upon payment of the required duty, VAT, delivery and storage charges (if applicable). Duty and VAT are as set by HMRC at the time of delivery. Delivery charges are based on number of cases to be delivered and are standard for all UK addresses except highlands and islands. Please ask for a quotation for highlands and islands, transfers to another bonded warehouse and for international transfers.
Please read our Delivery page for more details.
Storage
Mr.Wheeler’s Private Reserves offer perfect storage conditions for your fine wine until you are ready to drink or sell it. Our in-bond facilities are temperature and moisture-controlled, fully insured at replacement value, and accessible whenever you want. At Mr.Wheeler’s specialist wine storage facility in Burton-Upon-Trent, all private client reserves are marked with a unique rotation number as required by HM Revenue & Customs for bonded goods. In addition, each case of wine is clearly identifiable, confirming your ownership.
Please read our Fine Wine Storage page for more details.
You Might Also Like
2021 Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"Charming and extroverted, the 2021 Gloria bursts with aromas of cassis, cherries, sweet berries, fresh mint and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it's a lively, seamless wine that... wears its heart on its sleeve. This blend of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 14% Petit Verdot and 6% Cabernet Franc seems likely to emerge as a sleeper of the vintage." 90-92 pts., William Kelley, robertparker.com
£157 / Case£26.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2009 Chateau Lagrange 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 12x75cl
£615 / Case£51.25 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2021 Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"A brilliant Las Cases in 2021. Quite a savoury nose - dark chocolate covered blackcurrants, like a Black Forest gâteau as well as such signature Cabernet markers - green pepper, black pepper and... mint. This is serious, not as immediately charming or expressive, but grows in stature, expanding slowly while still maintaining a tight, focussed core. Spiced on the tongue, quite marked with sharp fruit that has an almost sour tang to it. You get the Cabernet Franc spice for sure - the highest percentage ever at 15% - alongside structure, length and intention. Acidity is well balanced and the tannins are so fine. Such purity of grape characteristics and terroir markers. Classic in the absolute best sense, there’s no hiding with every detail on show and in time this will be brilliant." 95 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£975 / Case£162.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Clos du Marquis, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"The 2020 Clos du Marquis is composed of 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 6% Cabernet Franc, weighing in with an alcohol of 13.57%, a pH of 3.76 and an IPT (tannins index) of 84. The Cabernet... Sauvignon was harvested from the 26th to 29th of September, the Merlot from the 11th to the 16th of September and the Cabernet Franc from the 18th to the 29th of September. Deep purple-black in color, it bursts from the glass with flamboyant notes of crushed blackberries, ripe, juicy plums and blackcurrant pastilles, with suggestions of licorice, red roses and espresso. The medium-bodied palate is completely coated with perfumed black fruits, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Simply gorgeous." 93-95 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, robertparker.com
£225 / Case£37.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Langoa Barton 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"A dark, brooding nose, full of bramble fruits and cherry chocolate drops. Tannins are to the fore; they coat the mouth giving a chewy, supple texture lifting the bright strawberry, bitter raspberry... and juicy red cherry fruits and giving this an air of knitted tension - all delivered in one straight line. I like the focus, it doesn't waver from start to finish and is intense the whole way also with sweet cedar, clove and cinnamon edges to the finish which gives nuances and depth. Good effort." 93 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£177 / Case£29.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2018 Chateau Gruaud Larose 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"Composed of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Gruaud Larose has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It comes barreling out of the glass with powerful scents of... blackberry preserves, baked plums and crème de cassis plus hints of fruitcake, Indian spices and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate offers bags of baked berries flavors and a chewy texture with just enough freshness, finishing spicy. Judging by the slightly rustic tannins and suggestions of dried berry characters, I'm guessing the heat and drought had an impact this year. This said, the wine is very well crafted and delicious right now, although a good 3-4 years in bottle should soften the tannins and bring out further nuances." 92 pts., Lisa Perrotti-Brown, www.robertparker.com
£330 / Case£55 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2017 Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"Tasted blind. Deep ruby-purple colour. Slightly reticent but pure cassis fruit on the nose. The depth comes on the palate – there is real drive of black fruit and bright acidity to offer real... energy. There is a sweet, juicy edge to the fruit that makes this soft and approachable. The tannins are fine and offer a delicate structure against the fruit. Should drink well in the medium term." 16 pts., Tom Parker MW, jancisrobinson.com
£153.36 / Case£25.56 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Chateau Gloria, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
Château Gloria vineyard covers 50 hectares of vines in St-Julien of which 65% are cabernet sauvignon, with 25% merlot , 5% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot. Gloria is unique in that although it is... not a classified growth of the appellation, it is comprised of various vineyards that have been meticulously assembled from classified properties. As are result, the grand vin offers exceptional value for money, particularly when expressed in an equally exceptional vintage as the 2020.
£159 / Case£26.50 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2018 Chateau Leoville Poyferre 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"The 2018 Léoville Poyferré has a glorious bouquet of layers of black cherry, blueberry, violet and potpourri that is opulent yet (paradoxically) effortlessly controlled. The palate is... medium-bodied with supple tannins. Some of the puppy fat that enveloped this wine from barrel has gone, revealing more backbone and an impressive sense of cohesion and symmetry on the finish. This is an outstanding Léoville Poyferré that has gained another level of complexity since I tasted it from barrel." 95 pts., Neal Martin, www.vinous.com
£450 / Case£75 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2018 Chateau Langoa Barton 3eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"The 2018 Langoa Barton is succulent and racy right out of the gate. Inky red fruit, sweet floral notes, cedar and spice all mesh together effortlessly. This mid-weight, pliant Saint-Julien is every bit as seductive as it was from barrel." 92 pts., Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£210 / Case£35 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate
2020 Chateau Leoville Las Cases 2eme Cru Classe, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
As one of the commune’s oldest and largest classified growths, Las Cases is also considered by many to be its leading estate - one which high critics’ scores tend to follow. Both Neal Martin and... The Wine Advocate have awarded the 2020 vintage a potential 96-98 points with 96 from Decanter and Jancis Robinson, 17.5+ from.
This year’s Las Cases shows real finesse and a pronounced minerality underlying sumptuous, full-bodied layers of black cherry and currant fruit; it is dense, concentrated and focused with a firm tannic structure that will see it through many decades to come.
£1,188 / Case£198 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2019 Connetable Talbot, Saint-Julien 6x75cl
"The 2019 Connetable Talbot is a hearty, rustic wine. Black cherry, dark spice, leather, tobacco and game show a good deal of intensity. ...this is nicely done and a tasty second wine from Talbot." 88 pts., Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com
£115 / Case£19.17 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: Immediate