Château Branaire Ducru ′Duluc De Branaire Ducru′ 2016, Saint-Julien

This is the second wine of Château Branaire Ducru, an estate recognised as a Fourth Growth in the 1855 Bordeaux classification. It’s still in the hands of the Maroteaux family, and François-Xavier Maroteaux today heads the winemaking with the advice of Eric Boissenot. Eric also consults at some of the finest First Growths, and the expertise of both men certainly shows in this bottle. It’s complex and full-bodied, with notes of blackcurrant, cherry, cedar and spice. It has a classic earthiness that’s fantastic with lamb.