Chateau Branaire-Ducru Saint-Julien 2010 / 750 ml.

Item#: 72990

RP9494 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 27th Feb 2013
This wine is more backward than I would have normally expected, but nevertheless, it is very impressive. The 2010 Branaire-Ducru displays an inky bluish purple color and loads of mulberry, raspberry, black currant, graphite and floral notes in its intense aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with sensational ripeness, purity, texture and length, the tannins are slightly more prominent than I remember from barrel, but they are sweet and ripe (as opposed to astringent and bitter). This beautiful wine needs 4–6 years of cellaring and should keep 25–30 years.
SP9494 pts. - Wine Spectator - Mar 31, 2013
Very polished and stylish, with a velvety feel to the layers of crushed plum, currant and blackberry, while bittersweet cocoa and black licorice glide in on the gorgeous, black tea-infused finish. Features a lovely allure rather than raw power, making this possibly the prettiest St.-Julien of the vintage. There’s plenty in the tank for cellaring as well. Best from 2014 through 2030. 15,000 cases made.

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Red Wine

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon | All Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot

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France | Bordeaux | Medoc | Saint-Julien

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Château Branaire-Ducru

Critical Acclaim

RP94 94 pts. / Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate (27th Feb 2013)

This wine is more backward than I would have normally expected, but nevertheless, it is very impressive. The 2010 Branaire-Ducru displays an inky bluish purple color and loads of mulberry, raspberry, black currant, graphite and floral notes in its intense aromatics. Medium to full-bodied, with sensational ripeness, purity, texture and length, the tannins are slightly more prominent than I remember from barrel, but they are sweet and ripe (as opposed to astringent and bitter). This beautiful wine needs 4–6 years of cellaring and should keep 25–30 years.

SP94 94 pts. / Wine Spectator (Mar 31, 2013)

Very polished and stylish, with a velvety feel to the layers of crushed plum, currant and blackberry, while bittersweet cocoa and black licorice glide in on the gorgeous, black tea-infused finish. Features a lovely allure rather than raw power, making this possibly the prettiest St.-Julien of the vintage. There’s plenty in the tank for cellaring as well. Best from 2014 through 2030. 15,000 cases made.

Where It's From

Region / Bordeaux

View more wines from Bordeaux

Bordeaux is known the world over for its exceptional wines, particularly red blends made with Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot grapes, among others. These Cabernets aren't typically the full-bodied Cabs you get from California, but rather medium-bodied wines that emanate elegance and sophistication.

You'll also find some refreshing Bordeaux whites and, of course, Bordeaux's famous dessert wine, Sauternes.

Country / France

View more wines from France

The French did not invent winemaking. They simply perfected it. For centuries, France has been producing wines that inspire poetry, awe, and wonder; wines that blur the lines between nature, craftsmanship, cuisine and art. These are the wines that inspired cultures around the globe to follow in France’s footsteps, planting Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Merlot, Semillon and more.

Yet as often as they are emulated, the magic of their terroirs can never be duplicated. You may taste Cabernet from around the world, but perhaps none as elegant and regal as Bordeaux. You may try Pinot Noir or Chardonnay from various climates, but none with the earth-bound soul and ethereal reach of Burgundy.

More Information

SKU 72990
Product Type Wine
Alternate Name Château Branaire-Ducru Saint-Julien
Country France
Region Bordeaux
District Medoc
Product Location - Location-Appellation Saint-Julien
Package Size 750 ml.
Wine/Spirit Brand Château Branaire-Ducru
Bottles per Case 12
Vintage 2010
Can it Be Shipped Yes
Premier Pick No
Wine Type Table Wine
Wine - Color Red
Grape(s) Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Primary Grape Cabernet Sauvignon
Dollar Sale (Y/N) No
Same Region, Same Vintage, Same Grape
RP9999 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 5th Mar 2020
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Cos d’Estournel unfurls slowly, measuredly, releasing delicate notes of dried mulberries, stewed plums and blackcurrant pastilles before giving way to notions of potpourri, black cherry compote and chocolate box plus touches of dried sage, tobacco and new leather. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid foundation of very firm, grainy tannins and very lively acidity supporting the remarkable intensity of tightly wound fruit layers, finishing very long and fragrant. Give it another 4–5 years in bottle and this will be stunning!
RP97+97+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 27th Feb 2013
The 2010 is a more structured, restrained, less flamboyant version of the 2009. A final blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that hit 14.5% natural alcohol, this wine (which represents only 55% of the estate's production) is full-bodied, classic and built along the lines of the 2000 (although that wine was made before Reybier acquired the estate and upgraded quality significantly). This wine exhibits beautifully pure notes of creme de cassis, blueberry liqueur, pen ink, graphite and hints of toast and vanillin. The wine is full and rich, and although aged in 80% new oak, the wood is a subtle background component. This beauty will take longer to round into shape than the dramatic and compelling 2009. Forget it for 5–8 years, and drink it over the following three-plus decades.
SP9595 pts. - Wine Spectator - Mar 31, 2013
An extremely well-sculpted, modern wine, with an enormous core of plum sauce, blackberry coulis and cassis fruit to match the ambitious roasted apple wood-, black tea- and tobacco-infused toast. Dense and chewy now, displaying the tannic spine of the vintage, this remains integrated, racy and incredibly long, offering a piercing chalky backbone that rivets everything together. Best from 2018 through 2038.
WE9595 pts. - Wine Enthusiast - 5/1/2013
This is a complex and rich wine dominated by superripe fruit. It is a wine of extremes, of fruit, of dark tannins allied to some bitterness from the black chocolate extract. Ripe plums and sweet black fruits are given a lift at the end with bright acidity.
ST94+94+? pts. - Stephen Tanzer’s International Wine Cellar - Jul/Aug 2013
Full, bright ruby. Superripe but vibrant nose offers liqueur-like cassis, graphite, mocha and exotic oak scents; smells thick! Then plush, dense, large-scaled and seamless, offering extraordinary breadth and a 3-D texture to its dark fruit, graphite and mineral flavors. This very modern style of Cos finishes with outstanding, building, palate-saturating persistence and utterly sweet tannins.
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France | Bordeaux | Medoc | Saint-Estephe

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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RP9999 pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 27th Feb 2013
The 2010 is a brilliant Chateau Margaux, as one might expect in this vintage. The percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the final blend hit 90%, the balance Merlot and Cabernet Franc, and only 38% of the crop made it into the Chateau Margaux. Paul Pontallier, the administrator, told me that this wine has even higher levels of tannin than some other extraordinary vintages such as 2005, 2000, 1996, etc. Deep purple, pure and intense, with floral notes, tremendous opulence and palate presence, this is a wine of considerable nobility. With loads of blueberry, black currant and violet-infused fruit and a heady alcohol level above 13.5% (although that looks modest compared to several other first growths, particularly Chateau Latour and Chateau Haut-Brion), its beautifully sweet texture, ripe tannin, abundant depth and profound finish all make for another near-perfect wine that should age effortlessly for 30–40 years.
RP98+98+ pts. - Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate - 5th Mar 2020
Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Château Margaux features notions of minted blackcurrants, new leather and Black Forest cake with nuances of sautéed herbs, tar, underbrush and wild fungi plus a waft of cedar. Full-bodied, the palate has a rock-solid structure of firm, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the taut, muscular fruit, finishing long and earthy.
SP9898 pts. - Wine Spectator - Mar 31, 2013
A mouthwatering tobacco leaf note leads the way, quickly followed by steeped black currant and fig fruit, with dark tar and ganache on the back end. Roasted alder and juniper hints hang in the background. Extremely backward, with a firm, tannic structure, this is girded for the long haul. Judging from the finely beaded acidity and lilting echo of lilac that peeks in now, this should acquire sensational aromatics and incredible grace with age. Best from 2018 through 2040. 10,833 cases made.
SP9898 pts. - Wine Spectator - Web only – 2014
Liquid velvet, with stunning length and a caressing mouthfeel, as layers of creamed plum, blackberry coulis and steeped black currant fruit glides along, seamlessly intertwined with black tea, mulled blood orange, incense and lilac. Hints of mesquite and alder hang subtly in the background, and the structure, evident and massive, has melded wonderfully. —Non-blind Château Margaux vertical (December 2013). Best from 2018 through 2040. 10,830 cases made.
WE9898 pts. - Wine Enthusiast - 5/1/2013
A great wine that is just starting out. The high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend gives the structured, black currant character. Dark chocolate and layers of wood are forward, revealing how young the wine is. And then the fruit, so rich and powerful, brings deliciousness to the firm, dense structure. Age for many years.
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France | Bordeaux | Medoc | Margaux

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Wine Spectator Top 100 SelectionWine Spectator Top 100 selection - 2019 | #16
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France | Bordeaux | Medoc | Saint-Julien

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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Wine Spec. Top 100 - 2019 | #16

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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WE9494 pts. - Wine Enthusiast - 2/1/2017
Spicy, rich and full of ripe fruit, this wine has great potential. It is structured and dense while bringing out a stylish elegance. Blackberry fruit dominates the tannins to create a wine that has both concentration and fine fruit. Drink from 2022.
SP9393 pts. - Wine Spectator - Mar 31, 2017
Very pure and expressive, featuring lovely violet and cassis aromas and flavors that stream forth, backed by light anise and graphite hints. Maintains a fresh feel through the finish, with light minerality engaging with the fruit. Best from 2019 through 2028. 13,335 cases made.
JS9393 pts. - JamesSuckling.com - Monday, February 13, 2017
This is a slightly shy mid-weight wine that is anything but a flashy one. If you have some patience though it has plenty of subtlety and sophistication. Drink in 2021.
VN9393 pts. - Vinous - Feb 2017
The 2014 Branaire Ducru is soft, polished and super-inviting. Succulent red cherry, plum, lavender, spice and mint give the wine its attractive, open-knit personality, while silky tannins add to an overall impression of sensuality. The 2014 should drink well with minimal cellaring. Today, it is among the most accessible of the Saint-Juliens.
JD9090 pts. - Jeb Dunnuck - November 30, 2017
I was disappointed not be able to taste the 2015 from this estate, but the 2014 Branaire-Ducru showed well from a bottle purchased locally. Revealing a deep ruby/plum color and forward, sexy notes of black cherries, plums, leather, dried tobacco leaves and cedarwood, it offers impressive depth and density in the vintage, beautiful balance, and a rich, layered textured that has it already drinking nicely. It can be drunk anytime over the coming 20 years. (Jeb Dunnuck)
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France | Bordeaux | Medoc | Saint-Julien

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Primary Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon

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