Château Branaire Ducru, 4ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2012
This 4th Growth estate is capable of turning out exceptional claret in St Julien. Patrick Maroteaux is one of the most charming propriétaire, honing classy and understated wines at a sensible price. The 2012 is pretty and brooding, with a bouquet of dark fruit and minerals. The palate is broad with aromas of hedgerow fruit, blackberry and sweet red fruits.
critic reviews
The 2012 Branaire-Ducru is medium to deep garnet colored. It opens with notes of dried Provence herbs, damp soil, and tapenade over a core of redcurrant jelly and plum preserves. The medium-bodied palate delivers youthful black fruits with a fine-grained texture and just enough freshness, finishing with an herbal lift.
The 2012 Branaire-Ducru has a rather subdued bouquet compared to its peers and lacks the same joire de vivre as the 2012 Clos du Marquis. The palate is medium-bodied with a light grip on the entry, finely balanced with admirable purity. It suggests that the aromatics might be amidst a dumb phase because there is more brightness towards the finish. Tasted blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting.
Deep ruby/purple, with sweet cranberry, mulberry and raspberry/blueberry fruit, this is always a distinctive St.-Julien and the 2012 has managed to avoid any of the hollowness or harsh tannins that can afflict some of the Medocs. It is elegant, well-made and an outstanding effort in this vintage. Drink it over the next 15 or more years.