Branaire Ducru Saint Julien 2018

Château Branaire Ducru is a revered Fourth Growth estate in the Saint Julien appellation on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. Its 60 hectare vineyard lies on deep Quaternary gravel siliceous alluvial soils with clay subsoil, spread over fifteen micro terroirs and gently rolling hills that overlook the Gironde Estuary. The vines average around 35 years old, offering consistency and maturity.

The 2018 vintage is a classic Bordeaux blend: approximately 58-65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28-33% Merlot, plus smaller amounts of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Grapes are hand harvested and vinified parcel by parcel in stainless-steel vats, with a cuvaison of up to three weeks. The wine then spends about eighteen months ageing in French oak barrels, around 60?% new. The result is a deep, refined wine with aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar and graphite, supple yet firm tannins, balanced acidity and a long mineral finish. It pairs beautifully with roast lamb or beef, game dishes, hearty stews and mature cheeses.