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Branaire Ducru 2018

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

A classic Saint Julien Chateau that produces wines of real St Julien class and structure. 60 hectares of vines planted with 65%Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. Purchased by the late Patrick Maroteaux in 1988, it is now run by his son Francois-Xavier who told us that the 2018 seems to him to be a hypothetical blend of 2009 (accessability), 2010 (structure) and 2016 (classicism). A bit more Merlot this year with a final blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot.

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

Label

Tasting Notes

Very attractive aromas of currants, tile and sandalwood with black and red currants. It’s full-bodied with a tight, dense center-palate that remains closed in and tight. Yet there is underlying seriousness and length to this. Perhaps the greatest Branaire-Ducru ever made. Try after 2026.

97
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2021

The 2018 Branaire-Ducru has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and an upfront, expressive nose of baked black plums, boysenberries and Morello cherries with an undercurrent of dried mint, spice box and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs a very pleasant fruit wallop, featuring juicy black fruits and a firm, grainy frame, finishing long with lovely purity. 2023 - 2043.

93
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, March 2021

Tasted blind. Not that deep a crimson. Light and fresh – lunchtime claret?! Easy-peasy. Until some pretty grainy tannins on the end. 14.5%
Drink 2026 – 2040

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2022

58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, 4% Cabernet Franc; 60% new oak. Barrel sample.
Black-cherry rim with opaque core. Scented with cassis and ripe damson fruit, quite open on the nose. Lively on the palate too, really fruity, balanced by fine layers of dry but not drying tannins. Oaky, chewy, rich, but smooth on the finish with aromatic fruit through to the finish. (JH) 14%
Drink 2025-2035

16.5
Julia Harding MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2019

Deep in colour, with a mix of ripe red and black fruit, baked vanilla and brioche on an enticing, brambly nose. The palate is ripe but not jammy, framed by bright acidity and medocain tannins. The toast from oak is savoury and complex, complementing rather than dominating the fruit. This finds perfect equilibrium between the sweet and savoury, making this a compact, perfectly proportioned, classic left bank Bordeaux.

92
Farr Vintners, Farr Tasting, April 2019

This is well-packed, with blueberry, açaí and blackberry fruit flavors and licorice snap and fruitcake notes. Long and refined despite the copious fruit, showing polish and poise through the finish.

94/97
James Molesworth, Wine Spectator, March 2019

(58 Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 Merlot, 5 Petit Verdot, 4 Cabernet Franc) | 60% new oak |14.3% alc This is a delicious and silky-smooth Branaire with fondanty fruit notes and a deep, dark core. At no stage does the oak or alcohol interrupt the flow of fruit and the overall impression is of a wine with serious class and definition. Great balance and nice weight make this a very rewarding drop if not quite one of the stellar Châteaux in this vintage. I think it will last for a long time, too, given the quality of tannins on display.

18+
Matthew Jukes, MatthewJukes.com, April 2019
Read more tasting notes...

This is a fantastic Brainaire with deep and dark fruit, such as blackberries and blackcurrants. Lots of raspberries, too. Full-bodied with firm and creamy tannins and a super long finish. We will see if it’s better than 2016, but on its way.

95/96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2019

The deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Branaire-Ducru begins just a tad reduced with broody tar, rubber and fried herbs scents giving way to a fragrant core of warm cassis, blackberry pie and blueberry coulis with touches of smoked meats and tobacco. Full-bodied, firm and rugged in the mouth with brawny, muscular fruit and a sturdy frame of grainy tannins, it finishes long and savory.

92/94
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (April 2019), April 2019
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.