# Duluc de Branaire-Ducru (2014)

- **Producer:** Château Branaire-Ducru
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc
- **Region:** Bordeaux, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 13.5%
- **Average price:** €36
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** redcurrant, raspberry, cherry, plum, liquorice, vanilla, cloves

## About this wine

Château Branaire-Ducru, a 4th Grand Cru Classé estate in Saint-Julien, Bordeaux, has been owned by the Maroteaux family since 1988. Duluc de Branaire-Ducru is the estate's highly regarded second wine, crafted with the same meticulous care as its Grand Vin. It embodies the "House Signature" of fruit, freshness, and elegance, offering an accessible and more youthful expression of the Château's distinctive style. Made from younger vines, Duluc is considered a full-fledged wine in its own right, providing an engaging introduction to the estate's terroir and winemaking philosophy. The 2014 vintage reflects the unique climatic conditions of the year, contributing to its specific character.

## Interesting facts

- Duluc is the second wine of Château Branaire-Ducru, a prestigious 4th Grand Cru Classé estate in Saint-Julien.
- It's crafted with the same meticulous care and attention as the estate's Grand Vin, offering a true taste of the house style.
- The estate practices certified sustainable viticulture, holding both HVE 3 and ISO 14001 environmental certifications.
- Only 625 cases of the 2014 vintage were produced, making it a relatively limited release.

## Food pairing

This Saint-Julien red, with its elegant structure, medium tannins, and vibrant red fruit character, pairs beautifully with a range of savory dishes. The wine's acidity and "crispy" tannins are excellent at cutting through the richness of grilled or roasted meats, especially lamb, beef, and game. Its fruit-forward profile complements savory sauces and herbs without being overshadowed. The roundness and freshness also make it a good match for semi-hard and soft cheeses, where it can enhance their nutty and creamy textures.

## Wine making process

The wine is sourced from the younger vines of Château Branaire-Ducru's 60-hectare estate, which features deep quaternary gravel soils over clay. The estate practices sustainable viticulture, holding HVE 3 and ISO 14001 certifications, with manual harvesting ensuring optimal grape selection. The 2014 vintage experienced an exceptionally mild winter, early bud burst, and a wet, cool spring, followed by a warm, sunny period from late August that aided grape tannin concentration and seed maturation. Vinification occurs in a modern, gravity-fed system utilizing temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks for precise plot-by-plot fermentation (25-27°C) and a 3-4 week maceration. This approach aims to express the fruit and terroir without over-extraction. Duluc de Branaire-Ducru is then aged for 12 months in French oak barrels, with 20% new wood, to preserve its vibrant fruit character.