Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)
St. Julien- Beychevelle Red Bordeaux Blend
St. Julien, Médoc, Bordeaux, France
2001 vintage. A delicious wine from a much underrated vintage. Still very fresh. In a beautiful place now, but no hurry to drink this. Very elegant. Abv. 13%
2001 vintage. A delicious wine from a much underrated vintage. Still very fresh. In a beautiful place now, but no hurry to drink this. Very elegant. Abv. 13%
Oct 19th, 2023
Plum and dark blue fruit. Some spicy notes, iron. A bit bloody. Quite open now
Plum and dark blue fruit. Some spicy notes, iron. A bit bloody. Quite open now
May 8th, 2023
Perfect drinking window now… dark in color, still showing a hint of primary fruit along with some beautiful secondary notes of cedar, tobacco, leather and ground coffee. Very much identifiable as cab dominated left bank Bordeaux. I like this more than the 95 I had no long ago
Perfect drinking window now… dark in color, still showing a hint of primary fruit along with some beautiful secondary notes of cedar, tobacco, leather and ground coffee. Very much identifiable as cab dominated left bank Bordeaux. I like this more than the 95 I had no long ago
Dec 9th, 2022
One year older, but not as approachable as its younger brother.
91+ points
One year older, but not as approachable as its younger brother.
91+ points
Wowie wee-wah. Honestly similar to the 89 I had recently. Less evolved but as tannic. Beautiful spot for a drinking vintage wine. Cedar, underripe plum, tobacco, and tar
Wowie wee-wah. Honestly similar to the 89 I had recently. Less evolved but as tannic. Beautiful spot for a drinking vintage wine. Cedar, underripe plum, tobacco, and tar
Nov 25th, 2022Happy Thanksgiving!! Deep, opaque red-purple. Staining legs. Medium plus bodied. Dry. Beets, roots, greenery, on the nose. Not overly aromatic. Red fruit on the palate. Smooth tannins. Very nice.
93 points
Happy Thanksgiving!! Deep, opaque red-purple. Staining legs. Medium plus bodied. Dry. Beets, roots, greenery, on the nose. Not overly aromatic. Red fruit on the palate. Smooth tannins. Very nice.
93 points
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a Bordeaux that spoke to me this much. Still a baby for sure, and really really tight at first, but the nose is intoxicating. The most prominent aromas are stone fruit, leather and to a slightly lesser extent vanilla, but if you breathe deep there’s lavender, clove and kind of a marinara sauce character in a sweet, warming way. I’d also say you can virtually smell the acidity. The palate has a crushed velvet texture - not to say that it’s smooth, because at this point in its evolution, the acid is strong and the tannins are yet to fully resolve, but it sits on your tongue in a comfortable if staid manner, like you’ve sunk into an old couch at a blue-blooded university club. It leaves you with red currant, sour plum, and firm blackberry on the long, but not too eager finish. I’m definitely left wanting more...
It’s been awhile since I’ve had a Bordeaux that spoke to me this much. Still a baby for sure, and really really tight at first, but the nose is intoxicating. The most prominent aromas are stone fruit, leather and to a slightly lesser extent vanilla, but if you breathe deep there’s lavender, clove and kind of a marinara sauce character in a sweet, warming way. I’d also say you can virtually smell the acidity. The palate has a crushed velvet texture - not to say that it’s smooth, because at this point in its evolution, the acid is strong and the tannins are yet to fully resolve, but it sits on your tongue in a comfortable if staid manner, like you’ve sunk into an old couch at a blue-blooded university club. It leaves you with red currant, sour plum, and firm blackberry on the long, but not too eager finish. I’m definitely left wanting more...
May 4th, 2020
Chateau located in St. Julien region of France with famous neighbors as Cheateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou & Chateau Beychevelle. The name means "beautiful pebbles". Deep Ruby with aromas of sweet ripe berry fruits & floral notes. Palate shows flavors of blueberry, blackberry and sweet currants. Full ripe tannins, elegant structure, lingering, ending with earthy herbal character. Nice!
Chateau located in St. Julien region of France with famous neighbors as Cheateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou & Chateau Beychevelle. The name means "beautiful pebbles". Deep Ruby with aromas of sweet ripe berry fruits & floral notes. Palate shows flavors of blueberry, blackberry and sweet currants. Full ripe tannins, elegant structure, lingering, ending with earthy herbal character. Nice!
Aug 27th, 2019Needs more time, I think. Still fairly primary and feeling the oak with a tinge of mint on the finish. Not bad at all, but eager to check back tomorrow to see how it evolves.
Needs more time, I think. Still fairly primary and feeling the oak with a tinge of mint on the finish. Not bad at all, but eager to check back tomorrow to see how it evolves.
Feb 17th, 2019