4ème Grand Cru Classé
Vintage: 2008
Producer: Château Branaire-Ducru
Enthusiastic and ambitious, Patrick Maroteaux has not ceased his efforts to raise the chateau Branaire-Ducru to perfection with the objective of restoring the wine of this exceptional terroir since he purchased it in 1988. Consisting of 50 hectares in Saint-Julien, the Chateau takes its named from a Mr. Braneyre who owned the estate in 1680. Unique soils give Branaire-Ducru wines their typicity and, with other prestigious neighbours, form an appellation recognized worldwide. Chateau Branaire-Ducru's reputation has been confirmed since it was ranked as a Fourth Growth in the Classification of 1855.
Vintage: 2008 begins with a fresh and humid spring. The vintage will not be an early one. In Saint-Julien the conditions for the flower are good: the average yield for the property is 44hl/ha, a little lower than last year. Climate of the summer’s beginning - that means end of June, July and first decade of August - is wonderfully nice. Very low amount of rainfall allows a good drying of the soils. In mid July many plots show a moderate hydric stress, in favour of the concentration and quality of grapes. The last two decades of August are more difficult: storms begin to worry us about the evolution of grapes. Serenity comes back in the vineyards with September’s second decade: a very nice dry weather settles down until the end of the harvest. Thanks to this we can wait for a perfect maturation of the grapes, even on the latest plots. Fruits evolute slowly but the magnificent end of the season makes it possible for the grapes to ripen deeply flavors and tannins. Harvest begins on september 30th. The early Merlots are picked in three days by a small team. We stop during three days and the late Merlots are harvested on October 6th and 7th. The picking of the Cabernet Sauvignons starts on 9th and finishes on 15th of October.
Tasting Notes: The colour is dense and deep. The wine gives off both ripe and fresh fruit aromas. Dense but elegant on the palate, it finishes with fine tannins, slowly matured by an exceptional autumn’s beginning, and on fresh hints showing a nice length.
Robert Parker Rating: 91-93+
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Appelation: Saint Julien
Grape Variety: 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol percentage: 13%
Size: 750ml
Style: Red
SKU: TC4D2487