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| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | |
| Appellation | |
| Winery | |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Grape | |
| Content (Alc) | 0.75 ltr (13%) |
| Drink window | 2024 - 2040 |
Duluc is the second label of Château Branaire-Ducru, founded in 1988 by Patrick Maroteaux. The winery has been in the family since 1988 and has been managed by Patrick Maroteaux's son, François-Xavier, since 2017. Technical director Jean-Dominique Videau has been at the helm for 20 years. The vineyard area consists of approximately fifteen different microterroirs and covers 60 hectares (almost 150 acres), spread from east to west across the southern part of the appellation area. The name Duluc refers to the Duluc family, who built the castle in 1824, and to the reputation of the wines at the time of the Classification of 1855.
Duluc is produced from younger vines, with the same high standards as Branaire-Ducru and a recognizable signature: Fruit, Freshness and Elegance. The wine matures in French oak barrels, 20% of which are new.
According to James Suckling (97/100): "...Perhaps the greatest Branaire-Ducru ever made."
The winter of 2019-2020 was particularly mild and exceptionally rainy. The vines bud early and evenly, 10 days earlier than average, thanks to the mild temperatures. The spring was also mild and wet, conditions favorable for mildew, which required special attention. The flowering, from mid-May, benefited from a short, warm and dry period: fruit set was ideal. Drought set in from June 19, but remained cool until mid-July.
Summer temperatures were significantly warmer thereafter, leading to progressive, high-quality water stress in the vineyard. These conditions contribute to a good build-up of tannins in the berries, as well as the development of aromas. This water shortage was alleviated in mid-August by rainfall from thunderstorms. In early September, in the absence of significant rain, water shortages returned to the vineyard and high temperatures favored the ripening process.
The harvest started on September 14. The ripeness of the grapes was excellent and the sugar content was perfectly balanced. The grapes were in perfect health and remained so until September 30, despite some rain at the end of the month. The Merlot grapes were of good size, while the very small Cabernet Sauvignon grapes increased the concentration of the wines.
The nose, pure and precise, opens quickly with aeration and offers a wonderful range of black and red fruit aromas. A beautiful volume on the palate unfolds gently and ends with a persistent aromatic freshness. The structure, initially slightly tight, quickly melts with aeration. The wine ends with a fine, elegant aftertaste.
You can of course buy Chateau Branaire-Ducru wines online at Grandcruwijnen.nl, the wine trade with one of the largest wine collections in the Netherlands and Belgium, where you can order both special wines and wines for every budget. Quality products, fast delivery & reliable service that is Grandcruwijnen!
FACT: In the 'Attachments' tab you will find the official fact sheet of this beautiful wine. We will send this to you automatically when you order this wine. The wine is stored in our conditioned Wine Warehouse and if you pick up the wine you will often receive a nice discount. You will see your discount immediately when you choose 'Collect' on the checkout page. We are located in Dordrecht with plenty of parking. Click here for our address.
| Type of Wine | Red |
|---|---|
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Appellation | Saint-Julien |
| Winery | Chateau Branaire Ducru |
| Grape | Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot |
| Biological certified | No |
| Natural wine | No |
| Vegan | No |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Drinking as of | 2024 |
| Drinking till | 2040 |
| Alcohol % | 13 |
| Alcohol free/low | No |
| Content | 0.75 ltr |
| Oak aging | Yes |
| Sparkling | No |
| Dessert wine | No |
| Closure | Cork |
| James Suckling rating | 92 |
| Tasting Profiles | Complex, Dark fruit, Dry, Aged on wood, Powerful, Mineral, Tannines |
| Drink moments | Indruk maken, Lekker luxe, Open haard |
After acknowledging the unrealized potential of this sleeping beauty in viticulture, Patrick Maroteaux and his family bought Château Branaire-Ducru in 1988. They decided to write a new chapter in the history of this fourth grand cru classé from 1855 and embarked on a large-scale renovation and work involving all the components that contribute to the production of great wine: the vines, the barrel house and the cellars, as well as the Château itself, which is the most visible representation of an estate.
Patrick Maroteaux also became an ambassador of Bordeaux and Branaire-Ducru, where he was president of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux from 2000 to 2008 and the Saint-Julien appellation from 2004 to 2017. François-Xavier Maroteaux took over management of the domain in 2017.
Château Branaire-Ducru is located in the heart of the Medoc, between Margaux and Pauillac in the Saint-Julien appellation. It is surrounded by the other great Classified Growths that populate this excellent terroir. The vines grow in a mixture of gravel and pebbles, deposited there by the Garonne River in the Quaternary. From the top of their hills, called "hills", they overlook the vast estuary of the Gironde, locally referred to as "the river".
The vineyard is made up of about fifteen different micro-terroirs and covers 60 hectares (nearly 150 hectares) that lie east to west across the southern part of the appellation area. The average age of the vines is 35 years. They grow in quaternary silicon and gravelly alluvium, making this terroir one of the warmest in the region. This allows our Cabernet Sauvignon grapes to reach perfect phenolic maturity here, while the Merlot thrives on clay beds.
The Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 65%, the largest part of our vines. It really is a star variety that has multiple layers, structure and great presence on the palate while remaining fresh and fruity with an intense array of aromas. 28% of our vines is Merlot, the good companion that makes our wines round and smooth. The 3% Cabernet Franc proportion builds on the floral notes of the wine. And last but not least, 4% Petit Verdot, the signature Medoc variety, adds spicy notes to our best blends.
The decisions made here have always been motivated by the need to protect the exceptional terroir on which the estate is located. We are aware of the impact of our production on the environment, which is why we are committed to the Bordeaux Wine Environmental Management System, based on the international ISO 14001 standard. The estate has been certified since 2020. The property has also been classified as High Environmental Value (HVE) level 3 since 2017. Château Branaire-Ducru is constantly working on improvement and acts as a responsible player in the protection of the environment, applying a CSR approach, in which the social and environmental dimensions are integrated into its economic strategy. It obtained the CSR label "Bordeaux Cultivons Demain" (level 1) in 2022.
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