Schloss Branaire-Ducru

History of the estate

BRANAIRE DUCRU, A STORY AS OLD AS IT IS TUMULTUOUS

It all began when the Duke of Eperon's lands fell into the hands of the crown in order to repay the debts of the deceased nobleman. This occurred in 1680, during a sale, thatJean Baptiste Braneyre, royal notary of Bordeaux, acquires the estate.

In 1824, the descendants of the latter built the emblematic castle of the property, which then bore the name of one of Mr. Braneyre's heirs:Gustave DucruIn the 19th century the property was abandoned and the Great Wars of the 20th century prevented the owners from doing justice to the terroir and grape varieties of Saint Julien.

However, in 1988, the shareholder of the Toury sugar refinery,Patrick MaroteauxHe bought the estate and aimed to restore its former glory. Even though he wasn't destined for a career in the wine industry, he thoroughly reformed the château's operations, from the vineyard to the bottle. An emblematic figure of the estate and the Bordeaux region, having presided over numerous producer groups (the Bordeaux Wine Interprofessional Council and the Saint-Julien winegrowers' union, to name just a few), he never lost sight of his primary objective:to share with enthusiasts the joy he finds in making his vintages.

In 2017, Patrick Maroteaux raised his glass one last time to all lovers of Bordeaux wines. Since then, his son has carried on the tradition.Francis Xavierwho manages the estate and begins a new chapter for this Grand Cru Classé.

The terroir of Château Branaire-Ducru

A TERROIR CONDUCIVE TO THE BIRTH OF EXCEPTIONAL WINES

Located on the edge of the estuary, on the warm stones of the Médoc, theBranaire-Ducru castleIt enjoys a well-balanced temperature and a temperate, warm, and oceanic climate. Indeed, the 60 hectares of vineyards consist ofgravelly quaternary and claywhich allow for heat retention and water filtration ideal for the vines. It's worth noting that Saint-Julien represents only 6% of the Médoc, making it the smallest AOC in the region. As for the estate itself, it has no reason to be ashamed of its location, since—situated between Pauillac and Margaux—it honors the 1855 Bordeaux wine classification with its ranking of4
e
Grand Cru Classé.

Men and wine

EXPERTISE: SHARED PLEASURE

The success of this wine is partly explained by the happiness the family experiences.Maroteauxto produce winespowerful, balanced and elegantThis stylistic definition of Château Branaire-Ducru was established from the moment the estate was acquired, in order to claim a true identity. The expression of the four grape varieties known in the region - theCabernet Sauvignon(70%), theMerlot(22%), theCabernet Franc(5%) and thePetit Verdot(2%), is made possible in particular by sustainable farming practices. The harvest is done by hand, the grapes are vinified traditionally, and the aging takes place in oak barrels. The challenge that the château set for itself has been met. Every wine lover takes pleasure in discovering, or rediscovering, the4th Classified Grand Cru of Branaire-Ducru.