Ratings By Robert Parker 95 Tasting Notes As usual, the 2005 Branaire-Ducru is one of the more distinctive wines of St.-Julien. Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux has turned out another classic. While not as opulent or fleshy as the 2003, and it remains to be seen if it will eclipse the 2000, the 2005 is a big,… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes Possessing the finest aromatics of all the 2004 St.-Juliens, Branaire Ducru offers complex licorice, cranberry, boysenberry, and floral notes interwoven with notions of plums and figs. This dark ruby/purple-tinged, medium-bodied, elegant effort offers sweet fruit as well as ripe tannins. Give it 1-3 years of bottle age and… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 95 Tasting Notes Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux, president of Unions des Grands Crus Classes, is pulling out all the stops to make Branaire as alluring as several of the Leovilles and Ducru Beaucaillou. 2003 and 2004 may be the finest back-to-back vintages ever produced at Branaire. Even better than the 1982, the… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 90 Tasting Notes The successful 2002 exhibits a beautiful, dense ruby/purple color, a lovely concoction of raspberries, cassis, flowers and licorice in the fragrant aromatics, medium to full body, surprising opulence for a 2002, and soft and supple tannin. A beauty, it is ideal for drinking now and over the next… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 91 Tasting Notes This is a deep red/purple-colored, stylish, sexy concoction of raspberries, graphite, smoke, minerals, and flowers. The complex aromatics are followed by a medium to full-bodied, seamless St.-Julien displaying velvety tannin, medium body, and sweet, concentrated fruit in a stylish, well-constructed, elegant style. The tannin is unobtrusive and well-integrated.… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 94 Tasting Notes A beautiful wine from Branaire, the 2000 is close to full maturity, and should offer plenty of pleasure over the next 15-20 years. Its deep ruby/purple hue is accompanied by scents of boysenberries, black currants, and spring flowers. This medium to full-bodied, pure St.-Julien hits the palate with… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes The 1999 Branaire is from an under-rated estate. This is a beautifully perfumed effort revealing scents of graphite, lead pencil shavings, blueberries, raspberries, and black currants. The wine is rich, layered, medium-bodied, pure, and elegant. It is a complex St.-Julien with good flavor depth, soft tannin, and unobtrusive… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes A dense ruby/purple color is accompanied by an attractive bouquet of lead pencil, graphite, black currants, raspberries, and spice. Medium-bodied, with beautifully knit flavors revealing excellent definition, this subtle, restrained yet persuasive 1998 displays a distinctive style. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2016. (Wine Advocate #134 Apr 2001) By Robert Parker
Ratings By Robert Parker (87) Tasting Notes This is a delicious, attractive, dark ruby/plum-colored offering with complex notes of lead pencil, minerals, black raspberries, currants, and new oak. Medium-bodied, with light tannin, this elegant wine is on a fast evolutionary track. Drink this delicious claret over the next 5-6 years.(Wine Advocate #128 Apr 2000) By… Read More »
Ratings By Robert Parker 89 Tasting Notes 1996: My concerns about the 1996 Branaire turning out too tannic were unfounded. Tasted three times out of bottle, it is a textbook Branaire, with a tell-tale floral, raspberry, and black currant-scented nose intermixed with minerals and floral nuances. Elegant and pure, with surprising lushness and sweet, well-integrated… Read More »