Editors notes
Grand-Puy Ducasse 2009 has intense color with ruby and purple hues. The aromas on the nose reveal hints of cassis syrup with licorice and toast. These are confirmed on the palate, which is pure and elegant with considerable depth. The finish is stylish, built around tannins which are noble and silky in their texture.
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot
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Critic Scores & reviews
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
93"Possibly the finest wine yet produced at this estate, the 2009 is even fatter, richer, and more unctuously textured than the 2005 (which I loved). It boasts an opaque purple color, thrilling levels of sweet crème de cassis and blackberries along with hints of underbrush as well as forest floor, silky tannins, full body, and a plush, heady, opulent personality. This stunning wine should drink well for two decades."
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Locations
France
Wine is being produced throughout France and has been done for over 2,500 years with certain Châteaux dating their history back to Roman times, around 6th Century BC. Ranking second in the world in per-capita consumption and first in total production quantity. More so than the overall quantity of wine is the quantity of truly great wines coming out of France makes the nation the envy of wine-making nations worldwide.
Two concepts pivotal to the higher end French wines, in particular, are the idea of 'terroir' and the Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) system. Terroir refers to the way the geography, geology and climate find their way into the glass, telling a story of the origin of the wine. The AOC was set up in 1935 and has the primary goal of protecting the authenticity of the wines and the livelihoods of the producers. Appellation rules strictly define which varieties of grapes and winemaking practices are approved for classification in each of France's several hundred geographically defined appellations, which can cover entire regions, individual villages or in some cases, like in Burgundy even specific vineyards.
Classic wine regions in France include Champagne (home of Champagne), Burgundy (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), Bordeaux (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot), Alsace (Aromatic varietals), Loire Valley (Chenin Blanc, Crémant) and the Rhône Valley (Syrah, Grenache Mourvedre)
The Bordeaux classification of 1855 is still in use, as is the Sauternes and Barsac Classification of the same year. Wines from certain regions can be bought En Primeur, which is when the wine is sold prior to it being bottled.
Bordeaux
Bordeaux has a rich history of winemaking, dating back to the Roman times. Today, it is known as one of the most significant wine regions in the world, with a reputation for producing complex, full-bodied red wines. The region is home to a diverse range of terroirs, each with its own unique microclimate, soil composition, and grape varieties.
The left bank of Bordeaux is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, which thrives in the region's gravelly soils. These wines tend to be bold, tannic, and complex, with notes of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco. On the right bank, Merlot is king, producing wines that are softer and fruitier, with notes of plum, cherry, and chocolate.
Aside from the red blends, Bordeaux is also renowned for its sweet wines, particularly from the Sauternes and Barsac appellations. These wines are made using a unique process that involves botrytis, or "noble rot," which concentrates the sugars in the grapes, resulting in a lusciously sweet and complex wine.
Bordeaux's classification system has evolved over time, with some estates moving up or down the ranks depending on the quality of their wines. Today, the system includes five growths, with Premier Cru being the highest and Deuxièmes Crus being the second-highest. There is also a separate classification for the sweet wines of Sauternes and Barsac, with Chateau d’Yquem holding the highest rank.
Overall, Bordeaux is a region that continues to captivate wine enthusiasts around the world with its rich history, diverse terroirs, and exceptional wines.
Pauillac
Pauillac, a commune within Bordeaux, is considered to be the most opulent appellation in the region and produces wines that are renowned for their richness and power. Wine expert Hugh Johnson has even gone as far as to declare that if he had to choose just one commune in Bordeaux to top the list, it would undoubtedly be Pauillac. This village, situated on the left bank of Gironde and located between Saint-Julien and Saint-Estephe, spans over 1,200 hectares and is the largest in the Médoc, with a population of more than 5,000.
The vineyards in Pauillac are mainly dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, although they also include blends of other grape varieties, such as Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. Despite its relatively small size, Pauillac's terroir differs significantly from the surrounding wine regions, which has allowed the winemakers to develop a unique and expert understanding of the area's flavor profiles. They have become skilled in accentuating the unique flavors of each individual vineyard, resulting in wines that showcase the essence of Pauillac.
The region's wines are characterized by a stark and blunt style, with a dominant flavor of black currant and hints of cedar-wood aromas. The wines are known for their robust and powerful nature, making them a favorite among wine enthusiasts worldwide. If you're a wine lover, then Pauillac is undoubtedly an appellation that you should experience for yourself.
About the brand Chateau Branaire-Ducru
Located on the Saint-Julien-Beychevelle plateau, Château Branaire-Ducru comprises of fifty hectares of exceptional terroir. Unique in their mineral makeup, the soils of the estate make up the cornerstone of their wines’ exceptional quality. Classified as one of Medoc’s Grand Crus since 1855, the Chateau’s prestige is based upon their unwavering quality of fruit, steadfast attention to detail in the vineyard and winery and the outstanding wines they’ve produced for decades. The majority of plantings are devoted to Cabernet Sauvignon, with this varietal making up 70% of the estate, followed by Merlot (22%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (4%). The vines average 35 years of age and are all harvested by hand. Château Branaire produces two wines, the Grand Vin and a second wine. The grand vin Château Branaire (often referred to as Château Branaire Ducru) averages about 15,000 cases per year. Branaire uses a novel (for the area) gravity-flow style winery to minimize damage to the grapes as they are processed. The wines go through primary fermentation for about three weeks in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats. About 1/3 of the production undergoes malolactic fermentation in new oak barrels. Once fermentation is complete the wines are transferred into oak barrels (50% new oak) for 18–24 months of aging. The estate also produces about 7,000 cases of the second wine, Duluc de Branaire-Ducru.
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