波爾多St-Julien產區Chateau Branaire Ducru的歷史可以回溯到17世紀後半，在當時它是屬於廣大的Château Beychevelle (四級酒莊)的一部分，在1680年賣給了一位貴族Jean-Baptiste Braneyre，他的家族後代將這個莊園逐漸發展成聲譽卓越的酒莊，並且在1855年的頂級酒莊分級中，榮獲了四級酒莊的高度評價。
Branaire Ducru的葡萄園主要位於St-Julien產區南邊Gironde河邊地帶的優異位置，總計有60公頃，土壤是礫石混合黏土，種植的葡萄是65 % Cabernet Sauvignon，以及28% Merlot、4% Petit Verdot和3 % Cabernet Franc，平均樹齡35年；發酵完成的酒在橡木桶中培養大約18個月(60 % 新桶)。平均年產量大約是15000箱。Branaire Ducru是優雅風格的典型St-Julien紅酒。
現在本酒莊當家的是François Xavier Maroteaux。1988年他的父親Patrick Maroteaux購得本莊園，並且大舉投資更新釀造設備，大幅提升了酒莊的水準；2017年Patrick過世，由兒子François接任。在Maroteaux家族的努力下，Branaire Ducru在專家們心目中，2000年份開始可以名列St-Julien產區表現的最好酒莊之一。本酒莊產品表現相當不凡而且很穩定，更重要的是價格都維持在很平實的水準，是識貨的行家們在St-Julien頂級紅酒裡的超值選擇。
A brilliant wine that's the finest young vintage I've tasted at this Saint-Julien estate, the 2022 Branaire-Ducru wafts from the glass with aromas of violets, blackberries, sweet cassis, licorice and pencil shavings, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and multidimensional palate that's succulent, sapid and perfumed, framed by supple tannins and concluding with a long, mouthwatering finish. It's a blend of 60.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31.5% Merlot, 5.5% Cabernet Franc and 2.5% Petit Verdot that checks in at a healthy pH of 3.65. Why is it so good this year? In addition to the quality of the vintage, the new gravity-flow winery means fruit can be handled more gently, and picked more precisely, sub-block by sub-block, as the team now have fully 63 vats at their disposal, almost double their capacity through 2020. Given the Maroteaux family's sensible approach to pricing, this is likely to number among the must-purchase wines of the 2022 vintage, and it comes warmly recommended.
WA:95-97 Drink:NA
