2003 Chateau Branaire Ducru

品飲筆記：這款酒典雅且漸入成熟，黑莓與黑醋栗香氣先行，隨之浮現淡雅花香、雪松與些許石墨感，法國橡木帶來溫和烘烤與香料氣息。口感飽滿但不沉重，單寧有力卻被圓潤的果肉包覆，餘韻綿長且條理分明。酒莊背景：周伯通（Château Branaire‑Ducru）為聖朱利安知名四級名莊，數代家族細心經營，釀造出帶有「家族風格」的經典酒款。田間與採收：園區多為礫石壤土，受大西洋影響，成熟期均衡；所有地塊人工採摘並在分級桌上嚴選果實。釀造工藝：不同地塊與批次分別發酵，浸皮可長達三週以萃取結構，榨後至少在法國橡木桶中熟成18個月（每年更新約60%桶材），全數於酒莊裝瓶。建議醒酒約1小時，再搭配烤羊肩、牛排或熟成乳酪享用，風味最佳。

Tasting note: Mature and classically Saint-Julien — dark berry fruit (blackcurrant, blackberry) opens to floral perfume, cedar and graphite, backed by toasty French oak. The palate is full-bodied, ripe and supple, with polished yet firm tannins and a long, precise finish. Producer notes: From a 4ème Grand Cru Classé with a multi-generational family commitment, this is the estate’s flagship bottling, often described as bearing the house signature that sets it apart in Saint-Julien. Vineyard & harvest: Parcels are hand-harvested and carefully sorted, reflecting a terroir of gravelly soils and a temperate maritime influence that favours balanced ripeness. Winemaking & ageing: Each parcel and variety is vinified separately, with extended macerations (up to three weeks) to extract structure and complexity. The wine matures at least eighteen months in French oak barrels (about 60% renewed annually) before being bottled at the château. Serving suggestion: Decant for around 60 minutes to let the aromatics open. Serve with roasted or grilled red meats, game, and mature cheeses.

Specification

• Alcohol %: 13 - 14.5%
• Decant Time: 60 minutes
• Taste: blackcurrant, blackberry, floral perfume, toasty French oak, cedar, graphite, earthy/savory notes, ripe fruit, polished yet firm tannins, long, persistent finish
• Food Matching: Lamb (leg, shoulder) with jus, Grilled or pan-seared steak, Rare roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, Venison or game, Aged cheddar or mature hard cheeses
• Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon , Merlot , Petit Verdot , Cabernet Franc ,

Winery

周伯通（Château Branaire‑Ducru）為聖朱利安四級名莊，世代經營，重視田間細節與傳承。酒莊以人工採收、分地塊釀造與長時間橡木熟成見長，釀出結構分明且極具陳年潛力的經典風格。

Château Branaire‑Ducru — a respected 4ème Grand Cru Classé of Saint‑Julien. Run by successive generations, the estate is known for a distinctive house style: meticulous vineyard work, hand-harvesting, parcel-by-parcel vinification and extended ageing in French oak to produce refined, long-lived wines.