Château Branaire-Ducru 2016, Grand Cru Classé (750 ml)

96 poena - James Suckling

U vlasništvu porodice Maroteaux, Chateau se vodi tzv. „3-F pravilom“, prema kojem vina uvijek moraju pokazivati finesu, voćnost i svježinu. Iako imanje proizvodi vino još od 1680-ih, pravi ugled stiče nakon klasifikacije iz 1855. godine. Vinograd se prostire na 59 hektara, smještenih na šljunkovitim brežuljcima apelacije Saint-Julien. Prosječna starost čokota održava se na 35 godina, jer se svake godine obnavlja po dva do tri hektara.

U berbi iz 2016. godine kupaža se sastoji od 64% Cabernet Sauvignon-a, 27% Merlot-a, 6% Petit Verdot-a i 3% Cabernet Franc-a. Vino pokazuje duboku boju, a nos zrelog voća je složen i izražajan, kombinujući bogatstvo i preciznost sa neophodnom – i ključnom – svježinom. Na nepcu je predivno uravnoteženo; napad je zavodljiv, sa visokom koncentracijom izuzetno finih tanina. Jasno je da će se ova berba iz 2016. svrstati među najbolje koje je ovo imanje ikada proizvelo.

96 points - James Suckling

Owned by the Maroteaux family, the Chateau follows what family refers to as the "3-F Rule" whereby the wines must always show finesse, fruit and freshness.   While the property has been making wine since the 1680s, its real acclaim began after the classification of 1855.  The vineyard is comprised of 59 hectares and is located on the gravelly hills of the Saint-Julien appellation. The average age of the vines is always kept at 35 years, as each year two or three hectares are renewed.  

In the 2016 vintage, the blend is 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.  The wine shows a deep colour, and the nose of ripe fruits is both complex and expressive, combining richness and precision with an underlying - and all-important - freshness. The palate is beautifully balanced, the attack is voluptuous and shows a high concentration of extremely fine tannins. It is evident that this 2016 is destined to join the ranks of this estate's finest vintages.