Description

Red Wine: 1981 | Chteau Branaire-Ducru | Saint-Julien

Its Grand Vin, made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon, is celebrated for its harmonious potency, velvety texture, and opulent richness, with top vintages displaying excellent aging potential.

Order from the Largest & Most Trusted Premium Spirits Marketplace!

Featured in

• ROLLING STONE
• MEN’S JOURNAL
• US WEEKLY

NOTICE: Many other small liquor store sites may end up cancelling your order due to the high demand, unavailability or inaccurate inventory counts. We have partnerships consisting of a large network of licensed retailers from within the United States, Europe and across the world ensuring orders are fulfilled.

Producer: Chteau Branaire-Ducru

Vintage: 1981

Size: 750ml

ABV: 13.8%

Varietal: Bordeaux Blend Red

Country/Region: France, Bordeaux

Its Grand Vin, made predominantly from Cabernet Sauvignon, is celebrated for its harmonious potency, velvety texture, and opulent richness, with top vintages displaying excellent aging potential.

Producer Information

Chteau Branaire-Ducru is a wine estate based the Saint-Julien appellation, in the Haut-Mdoc region, on the so-called “left bank” of the Garonne estuary north of the city of Bordeaux. The estate was ranked a fourth growth in the 1855 Classification of Mdoc and the Graves. The estate was founded in 1680 by Jean-Baptiste Braneyre, who reportedly saw the potential of the soils of the Bordeaux commune of Saint-Julien and the ability of Cabernet Sauvignon to flourish upon them. Before his death he gave his name to the estate, which was later changed to the current spelling, Branaire. Today the chteau encompasses 125 acres (50 ha) and is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, with some vines almost 90 years old. The property was once part of neighboring Chteau Beychevelle before it was broken up in the middle of the 17th Century to pay off the debts of the owners. Since 1988, Branaire-Ducru has been owned by Patrick Maroteaux, a former banker who fell in love with the Saint-Julien appellation and Branaire-Ducru itself. Under his ownership, 10 hectares (25 acres) have been added to the estate, and the winery and vineyards have undergone a complete modernization and renovation. Chteau Branaire-Ducru is the estate’s grand vin and approximately 300,000 bottles are produced a year. It is Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant, with the addition of Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The wines spend 18 months on average in oak and are rested in the cellars before being released into the market. These are wines made to be opened after around 10 years in the bottle and have some of the highest percentages of Cabernet Sauvignon seen in wines from Saint-Julien. The second wine, Duluc de Branaire-Ducru is made from the estate’s younger vines and released in a more approachable style than the grand vin. Maroteaux does not see the point in producing a third wine or extending his portfolio, as this would just drive up the price of his first wine based on the quantities of his wine rather than the quality.