Duluc 2015 - Second vin du Château Branaire-Ducru

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A sleek, brilliantly slender wine with fine tannins and a refined character, featuring a perfectly expressed nose of red berries and a firm yet velvety finish. A remarkable second wine.

About the estate:

This estate, located directly across from Château Beychevelle, has been completely revitalized by the Maroteaux family, who purchased it in 1988. The wine, produced from plots spread throughout the appellation, requires meticulous blending, a task handled by a highly skilled team. Its consistency is exemplary, as is that of the second wine, Duluc.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

An approachable second wine, smooth and round, with well-integrated tannins suited for short-term aging. A pleasant 2015.

About the estate:

With its Château (Directoire period) and orangery (18th century) featuring clean, simple lines, lovers of Neoclassical architecture will be delighted by a visit to this beautiful complex, which stands on the hillside above Beychevelle. Composed of gravel, this is a prime terroir, whose potential for viticulture was recognized as early as the late 17th century, when Jean-Baptiste Braneyre purchased the estate. With a 60-hectare vineyard, the estate has belonged to the Maroteaux family since 1988, who have made significant investments to restore the property to its former glory.

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

Located next to Beychevelle, the château was purchased in 1988 by a family-owned group led by Patrick Maroteaux; more than two-thirds of the approximately 50 hectares under cultivation are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, and, in addition to Merlot and Cabernet Franc, the vineyard includes a small amount of Petit Verdot. With the help of the technical director at the time, Philippe Dalhuin, the wines gained in density and consistency, without ever losing their soul. Having left for Mouton Rothschild in 2003, Philippe Dalhuin was replaced by Jean-Dominique Videau—who has since kept the focus on quality. New oak, in particular, is always used sparingly.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

François-Xavier, son of the late Patrick Maroteaux, now runs this admirable estate. Branaire-Ducru has quietly risen to the top and is now one of the Médoc’s must-visit estates. In recent years, the château has been equipped with state-of-the-art facilities. Due to the nature of its terroir, Branaire-Ducru cannot produce a wine as full-bodied as those from the three Léovilles; it plays on a different register, offering more finesse and suppleness, while aging admirably. The latest vintages have reached a remarkable level.

Wine Spectator

James Suckling