Château Branaire (duluc Ducru)

Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)

St. Julien- Beychevelle Red Bordeaux Blend 2012

Somm David T
9.2

Welcome to Pebble Beach Food & Wine 2025.

2012 in Bordeaux is a great memory as Sofia & I had a great 5 year anniversary trip to Italy where we were married, ending in Bordeaux. Picking Mouton Merlot for a day, lunch with the Baroness, having steak and sipping 82 Mouton. Pinch me is what I said to Sofia.

Saint Julien is the elegant region on the Left Bank. While 2012 was an ok to good vintage it will always be packed with great memories.

Branaire-Ducru in grand vintages is still a great value. Always elegant with this kind of bottle age and more.

Hour decant starting notes.

Tonight smooth, ripe, round, juicy; brambly blackberries/black raspberries, dark cherries, cherries, black plum, some strawberries, raspberries with blueberry tones. Dry tobacco with ash, leather, spice box with some heat, lightly grilled meats, volcanics, moist clay, clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, light vanillin, mid berry cola, dark chocolate bar, forest floor with leaves, sandalwood, steeped black tea, bay leaf, dry thyme, mocha powder, dry caramel, crush, dry rock/limestone, dry river stone, bright red flowers mixed with dark withering flowers, nice round acidity and a balanced, smartly tensioned, elegant finish that lasts 90 seconds & lands on herbs & earth.
— 3 days ago

Ceccherini, Daniel and 7 others liked this

Château Vannières

Bandol Mourvedre Blend 1998

1998 vintage. Cork a little dry near the bottom so called out the Durand for a rescue. Less meniscus than expected. Dusty, earthy nose. Medium body. Heaps of allspice/sandalwood, prunes and baking chocolate hovering about in the medicinal/oily nose and (mostly) in the flavor profile. Ridiculously reminiscent of an aged (‘80’s-‘90’s) Branaire-Ducru St. Julien BDX. So much so that, if blind tasting, that is the guess. This is gliding along. No highs or lows to navigate currently. Not a showstopper by any means but one helluva ringer in a blind tasting. Some bretty influences here and there but nothing warranting a red card/dq. Picked up slightly more body and a noticeable cinnamon/clove note on the finish after being open for an hour. Also...some muddiness along with a sudden frontal-palate richness (at the 1.5 hours open mark) reminiscent of Petit Verdot involvement/influence. WTF?!?! Bring it! 4.21.24. — a year ago

Jan, Ted and 7 others liked this

Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)

St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2024

94 what a sexy nose. A bit austere on the palate but it’ll surely improve. Very nice and long aftertaste. — a day ago

Paul liked this

Le Haut Medoc de Branaire-Ducru

Haut-Médoc Red Bordeaux Blend 2019

2019 vintage. Simple, good value. — 7 months ago

Peter and Tom liked this

Château Beychevelle

Saint-Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 1988

Dinner at Christophe Coperet's house. He opened some delicious bottles:
Champagne Tarlant - la matinale - 2003
Sauternes - Château Yquem - 1981 (this was ridiculously good)
St Julien - Château Branaire Ducru - 2008
St Julien - Château Talbot - 1998
St Julien - Château Beychevelle - 1988
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "La Combe d'Orveau" - Domaine Henri Perrot Minot - 1998 (my favorite of the list)
Pouilly Fuisse - Domaine Corsin - 1998.
— 9 years ago

Jeffrey, Mircea and 2 others liked this

Château Duluc

St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend 2018

Splendid 2nd Brand of a 4th Growth Chateau Branaire-Duceu from the left bank of Bordeaux.
All vines from this vinyard are +35 years old in average and entirely hand-harvested. It showcases a wine enough refinement and balance. Medley of red fruit and a bit earthly. This wine screams food pairing. Tannins are packed and solid, quite complex. Long and lingering finish.
— 3 months ago

Freddy liked this

Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)

Duluc de Branaire-Ducru Red Bordeaux Blend 2008

What a delicious 16 year old Bordeaux from Saint Julien.

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Full-bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black fruits with cedar, licorice, coffee, light earth, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf and dark chocolates.

Elegant and easy drinking once it opens up. Needs 3 hours.

This second wine is drinking very nicely now, although not from a great vintage.

Good by itself as a sipping wine. Would also pair nicely with game meats or lamb dishes.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points

$80.
— 7 months ago

Jay, Jose and 11 others liked this