Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)

St. Julien Red Bordeaux Blend

9.165 ratings
8.99 pro ratings
St. Julien, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
Red Bordeaux Blend
Chili & Hot Spicy, Potato, White Rice, Mushrooms, Pasta, Pork, Salami & Prosciutto, Pungent Cheese, Lamb, Tomato-Based, Onion, Shallot, Garlic, Beef, Hard Cheese, Venison
Top Notes For
John Willison

Black fruit, leather, tannins. Lingering finish. Definitely Bordeaux.

Black fruit, leather, tannins. Lingering finish. Definitely Bordeaux.

Dec 14th, 2018
Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

9.0

Drinking well right now. Plum, strawberry rhubarb, baker’s chocolate, sage. Treacle. Linear palate with Surprisingly firm mouthfeel and finish. 3 hour decant.

Drinking well right now. Plum, strawberry rhubarb, baker’s chocolate, sage. Treacle. Linear palate with Surprisingly firm mouthfeel and finish. 3 hour decant.

1 person found it helpfulMay 15th, 2021
David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

It's a good time for a first look at 2003. When I decanted this, it was ruby fruit, violets & lavender on the nose. Generally, a good sign of a nice bottle. It has very ripe fruit from the heat they had in Bordeaux in 03. It has the Saint Julien elegance and smoothness. The fruits are ruby ripe; black cherries, blackberries, dark raspberries, pouched strawberries, elegant dark moist earth with crushed rocks, pebbles, cinnamon, vanilla, touch of mint, dry stems, used lightly roasted coffee grounds, leather, dried tobacco leafs, dried red roses, decent acidity and a dry elegant fruit finish that last 30-40 seconds. Still has good; tannin structure, tension, length and balance. It has another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead.

It's a good time for a first look at 2003. When I decanted this, it was ruby fruit, violets & lavender on the nose. Generally, a good sign of a nice bottle. It has very ripe fruit from the heat they had in Bordeaux in 03. It has the Saint Julien elegance and smoothness. The fruits are ruby ripe; black cherries, blackberries, dark raspberries, pouched strawberries, elegant dark moist earth with crushed rocks, pebbles, cinnamon, vanilla, touch of mint, dry stems, used lightly roasted coffee grounds, leather, dried tobacco leafs, dried red roses, decent acidity and a dry elegant fruit finish that last 30-40 seconds. Still has good; tannin structure, tension, length and balance. It has another 10-15 years of good drinking ahead.

Dec 31st, 2016
Robert Cunningham

Wine Educator DeVinimus, Wine Workshop

9.3

Shale and mineral. Great structure. Still tight.

Shale and mineral. Great structure. Still tight.

Mar 30th, 2016
Bill Bender

Gobstopper. Needs a longer decant but still a sexy bruiser.

Gobstopper. Needs a longer decant but still a sexy bruiser.

Sep 26th, 2015
Jeff Bramwell

Pretty oaky and simple.

Pretty oaky and simple.

Apr 19th, 2014
Paul J
9.4

One of my favorite producers! 1 hour decant. Dark red color. Lovely nose of graphite, tar, and cherry. Wine is deep and more fruit forward than other vintages with more Napa elements (oak, touch of vanilla) than expected. Medium finish. Not as strong as the ‘00 vintage, but for some reason these ‘03 Bordeaux’s haven’t been living up to expectations recently.

One of my favorite producers! 1 hour decant. Dark red color. Lovely nose of graphite, tar, and cherry. Wine is deep and more fruit forward than other vintages with more Napa elements (oak, touch of vanilla) than expected. Medium finish. Not as strong as the ‘00 vintage, but for some reason these ‘03 Bordeaux’s haven’t been living up to expectations recently.

May 9th, 2020
Evan Bienstock

Very nice in a very hot 2003. Less elegant than I’d like to see but, damn, it was a hot one. We thoroughly enjoyed.

Very nice in a very hot 2003. Less elegant than I’d like to see but, damn, it was a hot one. We thoroughly enjoyed.

Jul 15th, 2018
Jonathan Salky

Really good wine from a really blah year.

Really good wine from a really blah year.

Dec 25th, 2017
Romain Stamm

Bordeaux Blend tasting - Romain

Bordeaux Blend tasting - Romain

Sep 25th, 2017