2009 Château Branaire-Ducru
Community Tasting Note
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Saturday, March 21, 2020 - 2009 Château Branaire-Ducru was classy and evolving, and showed great balance among flavours of ripe dark fruits, oak, mint and earthiness. The developing Saint-Julien was medium ruby in colour with noticeable fine sediments. Freshly uncorked, it showed an array of ripe black fruits, blackberries, mulberries and dark plum. Two hours of aeration allowed complexities of ecaulyptus, toast, vanilla, earth and forest floor to unpack. On the palate, it was dry and full-bodied, balanced by medium-high levels of acidity and gripping tannin. Flavours of saline minerality, dried blackberries, tobacco, mint and Oriental spices lingered in a long satisfying finish. It could be enjoyed now in its early maturity, or comfortably aged for at least five years to gain more tertiary notes. The blend composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot, and 3% Cabernet Franc.
Château Branaire-Ducru is one of my favourite wineries in Saint-Julien for the balance, complexity, wide availability and relative affordability. When I was studying my undergraduate degree in Hong Kong, I occasionally bought the second label Duluc de Branaire-Ducru from the supermarket and savoured it at the hostel. The approachability of the second label, as well as the interplay of blackberry, red plum and oak spices were just on point.
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