2018 Duluc de Branaire-Ducru Dry Red Wine, Saint-Julien Grand Vin Bordeaux

TASTING NOTES
Color: The wine's color shows a rich hue.
Nose: The nose is already expressive and complex, developing with ripe fruit underscored by a hint of fine spices. Pleasant fresh notes quickly unfold with aeration, lending beautiful dynamism to the wine and to the overall impression.
Palate: The attack on the palate is very round and characteristic of a vintage with beautiful ripeness. Some discreet aging notes give the wine a spicier touch today. The mouth develops smoothly, revealing a lovely acidity that supports a well-constructed ensemble. The finish is very lively, with a beautiful, fresh length.

BLEND
57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

GROWING SEASON
Winter and spring 2018 were rainy: A good water supply to the soils allowed for the development of beautiful vegetation in the vineyard. However, the abundant rainfall led to exceptionally high pressure from downy mildew. Spring was mild, and flowering occurred under good conditions.

In mid-July, the situation reversed: Summer was hot and very dry. 2018 is one of the earliest vintages. Autumn was also warm and dry. Grape ripening was very good. Sugar and phenolic levels were high, and the berries ripened early.

The Merlot berries were medium-sized, but the Cabernet Sauvignon berries were very small, which allowed for the production of wines with beautiful density. The harvest, which was very spread out thanks to excellent weather conditions, began on September 19 and ended on October 10. All plots, even the latest ones, benefited from the exceptionally good weather.

Good flowering, combined with good management of health issues, resulted in a beautiful volume that was uniform throughout the vineyard, even on the very old plots.

SERVING SUGGESTION
Serve at 16-18 °C with game dishes, beef goulash, red meat, and strong cheeses.