Château Branaire Ducru, 4ème Cru Classé, St Julien, 2016
Patrick Maroteaux's Fourth Growth Branaire Ducru is often a bit hit and miss at primeur tastings, but it usually displays its class when in bottle. The wines are usually not flashy or pretentious and give lots of drinking pleasure. The 2016 is very correct with leafy Cabernet notes, tobacco and dark fruit. The core is impressive and dense with finely grained tannins. A really poised and classy Branaire. 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.
critic reviews
The 2016 Branaire-Ducru offers melted red berry fruit on the nose, touches of singed leather and undergrowth, understated but focused. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, fresh with vivacious red fruit, lightly spiced, with a dash of black pepper towards the finish. Very classic in style and drinking perfectly now. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.