Friday 10 March 2017

Two Unknown Vintage´s Of Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)


I love to buy these anonymous bottles, in this case two bottles of Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru). One without a label and one with a label but the vintage schratched of. Both bought for a song.

The cork usually carries the vintage info, so lets pull them out softly. Both comes out in one piece. The bottle with no label display the name of Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) clearly on the cork and tilting it the vintage is readable...1934.
The other cork is black and no information is visible. The level of this bottle is not that good, so this one is easy forgotten. But the 34...

? Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)
Have drunk a couple of older Branaire and by thel abel and bottle shape, I would venture that this is from the 70´s. The nose is mature, round and loose around the edges with notes of cooked black fruits, moist earth, old leather and some VA. Acceptable but not good.
The taste is mature, dry and volatile with notes of old tobacco, dried black currants and a moist cellar. Rather short. Drinkable with food but passable.
74p   (tasted 2017/03)



1934 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru)
Ooooh boy! I will venture that this will make the short list of the 10 most memorable bottles when 2017 will be summarized. A perfectly mature Bordeaux is hard to beat. No label, the level is just below the neck and the cork came out in piece, revealing the vintage.
What a nose! The first pour displays soft red currants with some leathary aromas and a stable in the distance. But with air it fattens up and notes of dry chocolate wafers, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings and autumn leaves oozesup from the glass. Keeps on delivering the goods for two hours before fading ever so slightly, and when it does, it gives of a fascinating scent of a black currant vinegar. Great stuff!
The taste is soft, persistent, velvety and utterly gorgeous with notes of dried red and black currants, dark biscuits, a touch of dog fur, autumn leaves and coffee grounds. Very long and with a prescence of a distinguished, vigorous old gentleman, all dressed in tweed. For the two hours it blossomed in the glass it had a wonderful balance, complexity and drinkability. Just lovely.
96p   (tasted 2017/03)


4 comments:

  1. Happy to see that you had good moment with Branaire-Ducru 1934, just a memorable vintage for the château. Don't hesitate to tell me if one day you travel to Saint-Julien. I will be very happy to host you. Best regards, François-Xavier Maroteaux (branaire@branaire.com)

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    Replies
    1. Thanks for you comment! When I venture to Bordeaux, I will surely contact you.

      Best
      /Joakim

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  2. Hi. I am interested in purchasing the bottle of the Branaire-Ducru 1934. Might that be possible to arrange?

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    Replies
    1. Its long gone, both the bottle and the wine

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