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2011 Château Branaire-Ducru, St Julien, Bordeaux

  • Red
  • Dry
  • Full Bodied
  • Cabernet Sauvignon (67%),Merlot (24%),Petit Verdot (5%),Cabernet Franc (4%)
Ready - mature
Robert Parker
89/100
16.5/20
James Molesworth
90-93/100
Robert Parker
91-93/100
Product: 20118003230
2011 Château Branaire-Ducru, St Julien, Bordeaux

Description

We have consistently flagged up the progress made at this Fourth Growth St Julien estate in recent years and this vintage shows superbly the technical expertise which underpins their success. The bouquet shows intense focus, and on the palate there is great precision, with a tightly-knit core of sweet, ripe, berry fruit.

There is a very fine weave on the palate, a silky texture and a real concentration drawn from the low yield, which is around 18% below the figure for 2010. The tannins are abundant but are extremely fine, and this wine should age well for 15-20 years. Owner Patrick Maroteaux places this below the great vintages such as 2000, 2005, 2009 and 2010, but above 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Colour Red
Sweetness Dry
Vintage 2011
Maturity Ready - mature
Grape List Cabernet Sauvignon (67%),Merlot (24%),Petit Verdot (5%),Cabernet Franc (4%)
Body Full Bodied
Producer Château Branaire-Ducru

Critics reviews

Robert Parker 89/100
A dense blue/ruby/purple color is followed by notes of raspberries, incense and spring flowers, supple tannins, medium body and excellent elegance as well as purity. The result is a suave, savory 2011. While it does not possess the size or richness of vintages such as 2009 and 2010, the 2011 has plenty of charm and appeal. Drink it over the next decade.Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 30/04/2014
Robert Parker, RobertParker.com (Apr 2014)
16.5/20
Very good depth of Cabernet-cassis fruit, good middle sweetness and firm natural tannins. Will show very well.
Decanter.com
James Molesworth 90-93/100
A very elegant style, with a violet frame to the supple red currant, blueberry and black cherry fruit flavors that mingle with high-toned spice on the finish. Offers fine-grained structure. Wine Spectator's 2011 Top-Scoring Red Bordeaux james_molesworth, Wine Spectator, April 10, 2012
James Molesworth, WineSpectator.com (Apr 2012)
Robert Parker 91-93/100
A top-notch effort from this estate, the 2011 exhibits an exotic perfume of lead pencil shavings, white chocolate, raspberry jam and red as well as black currants. Loads of fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and velvety tannin suggest this beauty will drink well for 15+ years. It is one of the stars of the appellation in this vintage. Bravo! robert_parker - Wine Advocate - April 2012
Robert Parker, RobertParker.com (Apr 2012)

About this wine

Cabernet Sauvignon

The most famous red wine grape in the world and one of the most widely planted.
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Château Branaire-Ducru

Classified as a fourth growth in 1855, Ch. Branaire-Ducru makes pure and classic St Julien. The estate has recently passed from father to son: the widely respected Patrick Maroteaux – who had served at various times as president of the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux and the St Julien appellation – sadly passed away in 2017. His son François-Xavier has picked up the baton and continues his father’s legacy. The Maroteaux family bought the property in 1988 and have invested considerably in the vineyard and winery since. Superstar consultant Eric Boissenot advises here, as he does with many of the Left Bank’s top estates, including the Médoc’s four first growths.
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