Classified as a 4eme cru classe, Chateau Branaire Ducru was born from Chateau Beychevelle who at the time was heavily in debt and had to be split and sold off. The Chateau was bought by Patrick Maroteaux in 1988 with Philippe Dhalluin as the man in charge of wine making, he has since left to join Mouton Rothschild.

The wines are deep, round, rich, ripe. In the left bank 2009 were stunning. Plenty of sublime wines were produced in the Medoc. Many wines from Pauillac to St Estephe are so good they are close to off the charts.