FAMILY HERITAGE
Having recognised the unrealised potential of this viticultural sleeping beauty, Patrick Maroteaux and his family bought Château Branaire-Ducru in 1988. They decided to write a new chapter in the history of this fourth grand cru classé of 1855 and embarked on massive refurbishment and work involving all the components that contribute to the production of great wine: the vines, the vathouse and cellars, as well as the Château itself, which is the most visible representation of an estate.
Patrick Maroteaux also became an ambassador of Bordeaux and Branaire-Ducru, presiding over the Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux from 2000 to 2008, and the Saint-Julien appellation from 2004 to 2017.
François-Xavier Maroteaux took over the management of the estate in 2017. The history continues…
SAINT-JULIEN
Château Branaire-Ducru is located in the heart of the Medoc, between Margaux and Pauillac in the Saint-Julien appellation area. It is surrounded by the other great Classified Growths that populate this outstanding terroir.
The vines grow in a mixture of gravel and pebbles, deposited there by the River Garonne in the Quaternary Period. From the top of their hillocks, called “mounds”, they overlook the vast Gironde Estuary, locally referred to as “the river”.
TERROIR
The vineyard is made up of around fifteen different micro-terroirs and covers 60 hectares (nearly 150 acres) that lie from East to West across the Southern part of the appellation area.
The average age of the vines is 35 years. They grow in quaternary silicious and gravel alluvium, which makes this terroir one of the warmest in the region.
As a result, our Cabernet Sauvignon grapes achieve perfect phenolic ripeness here, while the Merlot flourishes on beds of clay.
VINEYARD
The Cabernet Sauvignon accounts for 65%, the majority of our vines. It is truly a star variety that contributes multiple layers, structure and great presence on the palate, while remaining fresh and fruity with an intense range of aromas.
28% of our vines are Merlot, which is the good companion variety that makes our wines round and supple. The 3% share of Cabernet Franc builds on the wine’s floral notes.
And last but not least, 4% of Petit Verdot, the characteristic Medoc variety, add spicy hints to our finest blends.
A VISION OF COMMITMENT
The decisions taken here have always been motivated by the need to protect the exceptional terroir on which the estate is located. We are aware of the impact of our production on the environment, which is why we are committed to the Bordeaux Wine Environmental Management System, based on the international ISO 14001 standard. The estate has been certified since 2020. The property has also been classified “High Environmental Value” (HVE) level 3 since 2016.
We are committed to continuous improvement and have also widened our vision for the property’s future by implementing a corporate social responsibility (CSR) policy in order to add societal and environmental goals to our business strategy, thereby including all dimensions of the estate’s footprint.
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