PRE-ORDER 2012 | WE 95 Darker fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant) compared to some vintages, with notes of cassis, tobacco, and cedar. 2015 | WE 95 Notes of blackberry, plum, prune, licorice, and cedar, with a polished, fleshy texture. 2016 | WS 96 Structured and firm, yet balanced with supple tannins, offering a medium-to-full-bodied experience. 2018 | WS 97 Features well-defined blackberry, cedar, blueberry, and liquorice notes with a polished, long, and elegant finish. 2020 | D 95 The 2020 vintage shows intense aromas of blackberry, bilberry, and light minty notes. It has a polished, creamy texture with blue fruit, blackcurrants, and fine-grained tannins. 2021 | D 94 Sleek, finessed, and aromatic with notes of cassis, violets, and cedar.   About Winery Chateau Branaire-Ducru's 120 acres is located in the St. Julien region of France and has such famous neighbors as Cheateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou and Chateau Beychevelle.The name, given by the former owner Monsieur Ducru, means "beautiful pebbles". One of the main features of the vineyard is its richness in pebbles which contribute to the greatness of so many wines of the Medoc. Just before the war, the vineyard became run down and many Bordeaux critics felt it no longer deserved its rank as a Second Growth. During the Medoc Classification of 1855, the Chateau was rated as a Fourth Growth. In 1942 the Borie family purchased the vineyard completely revamped the vineyard and it began receiving top ratings amongst the Second Growths. Successive generations of the Borie family oversee all winemaking operations.

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PRE-ORDER 2015 | WE 94 Rich red and black fruits, chocolate, tobacco, and forest floor, featuring a "fleshy and tight" texture 2016 | JS 96 Beautiful aromas of flowers and berries, intermingled in fresh and brambly mode with a cedary edge. This is very fresh. The tannins carve an exceptionally deep, long line through the dark berries and cassis and deliver a very powerful, unwavering finish. This is in great form. Very powerful and focused. 2017 | WA 93 The 2017 vintage is characterized as savory and traditional, featuring notes of dark berries, graphite, and cedarwood. It is well-structured with fine tannins, leading to a long, polished finish.    About Winery Chateau Branaire-Ducru's 120 acres is located in the St. Julien region of France and has such famous neighbors as Cheateau Gruaud-Larose, Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou and Chateau Beychevelle.The name, given by the former owner Monsieur Ducru, means "beautiful pebbles". One of the main features of the vineyard is its richness in pebbles which contribute to the greatness of so many wines of the Medoc. Just before the war, the vineyard became run down and many Bordeaux critics felt it no longer deserved its rank as a Second Growth. During the Medoc Classification of 1855, the Chateau was rated as a Fourth Growth. In 1942 the Borie family purchased the vineyard completely revamped the vineyard and it began receiving top ratings amongst the Second Growths. Successive generations of the Borie family oversee all winemaking operations.

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