Chateau Branaire Ducru 2021 Magnum (1,5l) Incl. Box

Product info about Chateau Branaire Ducru 2021 Magnum (1,5l)

Château Branaire-Ducru 2021 is a red Bordeaux from Saint-Julien, offered here in a 1.5-litre magnum. It is the grand vin of Château Branaire-Ducru, a Quatrième Grand Cru Classé from the 1855 classification. The 2021 vintage has a more classical, Atlantic feel than the warmer 2018, 2019 and 2020 releases: less about sheer weight, more about freshness, structure and precision.

The blend is built around cabernet sauvignon, at 66%, supported by 22% merlot, 6.5% cabernet franc and 5.5% petit verdot. That cabernet emphasis reflects the season, as the dry and sunny spell towards the end of the growing cycle particularly benefited the cabernets. The grapes are harvested by hand and handled by plot and variety, with gravity used to limit pumping and preserve the integrity of the fruit.

Maturation takes place in French oak barriques, with a significant proportion of new wood, kept in a supporting role to preserve the fruit-driven style. Branaire-Ducru is generally associated with fruit, freshness, elegance and fine tannins; in 2021, those qualities appear in a distinctly classical Bordeaux frame, shaped by cabernet structure and bright acidity.

At Drankenshop Broekmans, this magnum stands out for customers who appreciate serious Saint-Julien with ageing potential rather than immediate opulence. The available information indicates a drinking window of roughly 5 to 25 years, and the wine's acidity, tannin structure and cabernet-led composition all point to a bottle made with time in mind. These are also the last bottles, making this magnum format especially noteworthy for anyone looking specifically for Château Branaire-Ducru 2021.

The 2021 shows a precise, fresh aromatic profile with dark berries, cassis, plum, cherry and raspberry. Floral notes of violet appear alongside menthol, cedar, spice and mineral impressions described as graphite or crushed stone. Some notes also mention cocoa, chocolate and orange peel.

On the palate it is generally described as medium to full-bodied rather than heavy. Fresh acidity gives the wine lift, while the tannins are fine-grained, sometimes powdery, with a silky or velvety texture. The oak influence is present but supportive, adding cedar and spice rather than dominating the fruit. The overall impression is classical Bordeaux: structured, fresh and neatly defined.