Chateau Branaire Ducru   Chateau Branaire Ducru

2004 Chateau Branaire Ducru

By Chateau Branaire Ducru

The 2004 Chateau Branaire Ducru from Chateau Branaire Ducru, St-Julien, Bordeaux

In the tapestry of Bordeaux vintages, the 2004 Chateau Branaire Ducru from Chateau Branaire Ducru stands as a testament to the fortitude and grace of St-Julien's terroir. This vintage is frequently overshadowed by the lauded 2005s, yet it possesses a charm that merits commendation—a sleeper ready to awaken in the cellars of astute collectors. With now two decades of maturity, it is unfurling its narrative with articulate poise.

 

Harmonious Complexity: The Mark of Mature Investment

The 2004 vintage was nurtured by a growing season marked by idiosyncratic whims: an initially mild winter, a welcomespring warmth, and a summer that dallied between heat and welcomed cool spells. This capricious weather pattern culminated in a September that allowed for careful selection and harvesting. The resulting wine reflects this trajectory with a balance that is emblematic of careful vineyard husbandry and deft winemaking.

The 2004 Chateau Branaire Ducru reveals a bouquet still vibrant with red currants and blackberries, interlaced now with secondary aromas of tobacco leaf, cedarwood, and a whisper of graphite - a nod, no doubt, to the estate's judicious use of oak. On the palate, it parades a well-structured tannic frame adorned in silk. The initial austerity has softened, yielding an integrated blend of savoury elements ensconced in still-present dark fruit.

As we discuss the potential investment in such a wine, we find ourselves considering not only its individual merit but its placement within an evolving market. As with any asset, provenance is key. An immaculately cellared bottle of 2004 Chateau Branaire Ducru embodies this principle—offering elegance and depth to those who seek to diversify their portfolio with bottles showing notable development without veering towards senescence.

 

Concluding Thoughts on a Resilient Vintage

The discerning investor looks beyond the clamour of acclaimed vintages to identify treasures such as the 2004 Chateau Branaire Ducru—a wine that demonstrates resilience, class and the ability to enchant even after years of repose. It stands as an insightful choice for those poised to appreciate maturity in both wine and investments alike; reflective not merely of St-Julien's expertise but of the shrewdness betwixt quality and timing.

Current market price

£580.00

12x75cl

Highest score

90

POP score

58

Scores and tasting notes

90

Possessing the finest aromatics of all the 2004 St.-Juliens, Branaire Ducru offers complex licorice, cranberry, boysenberry, and floral notes interwoven with notions of plums and figs. This dark ruby/purple-tinged, medium-bodied, elegant effort offers sweet fruit as well as ripe tannins. Give it 1-3 years of bottle age and drink it over the following 14 -15.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 28 June 2007

Vintage performance