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Branaire Ducru 2006

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Branaire-Ducru

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Tasting Notes

By no means comparable to their sensational 2005 or 2003, but still an outstanding wine, this singular St.-Julien always possesses notes of spring flowers, boysenberries, black currants, and graphite. The complex aromatics are followed by a medium-bodied, classic Bordeaux displaying a deep ruby/purple color as well as moderately high tannin. It needs 3-5 years of bottle age, and should last for two decades or more.

90+
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (181), February 2009

Tasted at the UGC. A little muffled on the blackberry, cranberry and graphite scented nose that has a lot of vanillary new oak. The palate is full-bodied, layered with toasty black fruits laced with a touch of burnt toast. Supple tannins, very lithe and endearing, but like Beychevelle it needs more backbone. Still a fresh, pert finish with just a touch of greenness that detracts very little from the overall wine. Good potential. Tasted April 2007.

89/91
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2007

Very solid, with good fruit and a complete core of ripe tannins. Medium- to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium to full finish. I prefer this to the 2004. Very close to 92-94.

89/91
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2007

Very deep purple. Glossy and well integrated on the nose. Very firm with lots of spine. Quite notable tannins. Sturdy and honest - no mucking about with toasty oak here. Almost old fashioned. Hint of green on the end. Drink 2013-2020. Date tasted 7th Nov 08.

16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, July 2009

Bright red-ruby. Pure, high-pitched nose offers blueberry, dark chocolate, menthol and cedary oak. Suave, sweet and serious, with lovely inner-mouth lift and energy and sneaky density of texture. Hints of pepper and herbs serve to perk up the wine. Not a particularly chocolatey style for Branaire. Finishes with a lovely light touch and plenty of structure for a leisurely evolution in bottle.

91+
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May 2009
Read more tasting notes...

Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux continues to ratchet up the quality level at this impeccably run St.-Julien estate. The 2006 is similar to the 1996 Branaire, but with sweeter fruit. A deep ruby/purple hue precedes a perfumed nose of sweet boysenberries, black cherries, minerals, spring flowers, and a hint of pain grille in the background. Fresh, savory, medium to full-bodied flavors coat the palate with beautiful purity, no hard edges, ripe tannin, and intense fruit. This elegant, layered, impressive offering will be at its peak between 2012-2025.

92/94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

Very dark crimson with a blackish streak. So glossy. Indistinct and not especially expressive nose. Oddly a bit loose and unfocussed on the palate despite the dramatic look. Bit like a cup of tepid tea. Dies a little on the end though a great deal of effort has clearly gone into it. Fruit a bit smashed. Neat but fades.

16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2007

(not yet fined) Full ruby-red. Sexy aromas of currant, chocolate, mocha and coffee. Dense, firm and sweet, with chateau-typical flavors of currant, minerals and chocolate and very good breadth. Finishes pure and fruity, with spreading tannins and lingering notes of black cherry and minerals. This makes the young 2007 seem a bit dry by comparison.

91/93
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, June 2008
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.