Chateau Branaire Ducru   Chateau Branaire Ducru

1999 Chateau Branaire Ducru

By Chateau Branaire Ducru

The 1999 Chateau Branaire Ducru from Chateau Branaire Ducru, St-Julien, Bordeaux

In exploring the Last Millennial vintage of the venerable 1999 Chateau Branaire Ducru from Chateau Branaire Ducru, one encounters a St-Julien wine of remarkable depth and complexity. This vintage resonates with the seasoned investor, standing as a climax of orchestrated viticulture and astute barrel ageing from an estate renowned for consistency and prestige.

 

A Testament to St-Julien's Terroir

The 1999 vintage was one not spoiled by excessive heat or dampness; it was a grower's season, careful and measured. Within this context, the 1999 Chateau Branaire Ducru emerged as one of the luminaries. With a bouquet that invokes dark cherries, hints of cedar and tobacco – it is a classic presentation one expects from the finest St-Julien terroir. On the palate, an impeccably balanced structure presents itself, combining ripe tannins with a medium body.

 

Investment Merits of The Vintage

The merits of including the 1999 Chateau Branaire Ducru in a fine wine portfolio are manifold. With age, it has developed a gracefulness that seduces the connoisseur—its integration of oak and fruit, its tertiary notes just now unfurling. For investors seeking a wine with a proven maturity curve yet still holding promise for further development, this offering is profound.

The collectors' market sees consistent attention for this revered house in St-Julien, Bordeaux. The 1999 vintage stands as an exemplar year where patience has rewarded savants with a wine aligning elegance with structure—a hallmark to consider as part of any diversified fine wine investment strategy.

 

Concluding Notes on a St-Julien Gem

In summary, the 1999 Chateau Branaire Ducru represents both an exemplification of its vintage's climatic rigour and the timeless tradition within which Chateau Branaire Ducru operates. As this wine graces the glass today, it speaks of meticulous cultivation and enlightened oenological practices from bygone days that will continue to fascinate and delight both investors and epicureans alike.

Current market price

$1,070.00

12x75cl

Highest score

89

POP score

71.11

Scores and tasting notes

89

The 1999 Branaire is from an under-rated estate. This is a beautifully perfumed effort revealing scents of graphite, lead pencil shavings, blueberries, raspberries, and black currants. The wine is rich, layered, medium-bodied, pure, and elegant. It is a complex St.-Julien with good flavor depth, soft tannin, and unobtrusive acidity. Drink it now and over the next 12-15+ years.

Robert Parker Jr - The Wine Advocate, 29 April 2002

Vintage performance