2010 Château Branaire-Ducru, St Julien, Bordeaux

From a château just across the street from Beychevelle, in the southern part of Saint-Julien, the 2010 Château Branaire-Ducru is largely Cabernet Sauvignon yet includes 24% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The château never seems to deliver the density and structure of Ducru-Beaucaillou (located just to the north) or the supple sexiness of Beychevelle, but it always has remarkable purity and precision, with a terrific sense of class and elegance. Still youthfully ruby-hued, it has a terrific perfume of red and black currants, freshly sharpened cedar pencils, dried flowers, and savory herbs and tobacco notes.

Playing in the medium to full-bodied end of the spectrum, it stays focused and tight on the palate, with classic 2010 purity, precision, and structure that’s balanced by considerable elegance. It clearly offers pleasure today, particularly with a decant, yet I suspect it will benefit from another 4-5 years in the cellar. It should be long-lived.

94/100,Jeb Dunnuck,jebdunnuck.com (May 2024)