Château Branaire-Ducru

Identity

Château Branaire-Ducru, a Quatrième Grand Cru Classé in 1855, is located in the commune of Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, in the Gironde département. The estate is currently managed by François-Xavier Maroteaux, who serves as its President and co-owner. Jean-Dominique Videau has held the position of Technical Director and oenologist since joining the estate in 2002. Laurent Buzy-Debat is the cellar master and Rodolphe Meng is the vineyard manager. The consulting oenologist is Éric Boissenot.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château Branaire-Ducru dates back to the late 17th century, around 1680, when Jean-Baptiste Braneyre first developed the property's viticultural potential. The current Directoire-style château was built in 1824. In 1855, the estate was ranked as a Quatrième Grand Cru Classé in the official Bordeaux wine classification. In 1857, Gustave Ducru became the owner, adding his surname to Branaire. The Maroteaux family acquired the estate in 1988, led by Patrick Maroteaux. Under his stewardship, the property embarked on a modernisation programme, notably installing a gravity-flow vat room as early as 1991. Following the passing of his father, Patrick Maroteaux, François-Xavier Maroteaux took over the helm in 2017. The estate is committed to environmentally responsible viticulture, holding certifications such as Haute Valeur Environnementale (HVE) Level 3 since 2017, BeeFriendly since 2021, and ISO 14001 since 2020. It was also awarded the Level 2 Cultivons Demain CSR certification in 2023.

Appellations

Château Branaire-Ducru primarily produces wines under the Saint-Julien appellation. The estate also owns a few hectares in Haut-Médoc.

Practical Information

Address: 1, chem. du Bourdieu, 33250 Saint-Julien-Beychevelle, France.
Telephone: +33 5 56 59 25 86
Email: branaire@branaire.com

The estate offers direct sales and tastings on site. Guided tours are available, including a visit to the new vat room and its artistic chandelier crafted from 216 pieces of Limoges porcelain. The estate does not offer on-site accommodation or dining facilities.

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The Château Branaire-Ducru vineyard spans approximately 60 hectares. It is characterised by deep Quaternary gravel over clay, comprising gravelly-siliceous alluvium deposited by the Garonne River. This terroir is exceptionally well suited to Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. The average age of the vines is 35 years. The grape varieties planted consist of Cabernet Sauvignon (65%), Merlot (28%), Cabernet Franc (3%), and Petit Verdot (4%). Harvesting is carried out entirely by hand.

Flagship Cuvées

The estate produces two main cuvées. The flagship wine is Château Branaire-Ducru, a red wine crafted in pursuit of balance, suppleness, and depth. The second wine, created in 1988, is named Duluc de Branaire-Ducru and accounts for approximately 40% of the dedicated vineyard production.

Vinification and Ageing

Vinification takes place in a gravity-fed vat room. The estate was a pioneer when it installed its first gravity-flow facility in 1991 with 28 vats, later adding 10 more in 2010. In 2022, a new gravity-flow cellar was inaugurated by François-Xavier Maroteaux, featuring 65 suspended vats out of a total of 75. This suspended vat system is a rare architectural feature in the Médoc given its scale. Hand-harvested grapes are carefully sorted on tables upon arrival. Maceration can last up to three weeks. Ageing takes place in French oak barrels sourced from the finest forests, with 60% new oak each year. The ageing period lasts for a minimum of eighteen months. Bottling is carried out at the château.