Château Branaire Ducru 2018 [magnum]

VertdeVin

The nose is fruity, elegant, racy and offers a beautiful concentration (full of finesse), a certain deepness as well as complexity and a racy/controlled power. This wine should be decanted. It reveals notes of pulpy cassis, strawberry, pulpy wild raspberry and small notes of violet associated with touches of fresh cardamom, racy gravels (sense of the place), discreet hints of liquorice, a subtle hint of fresh vanilla pod, Madagascar pepper, sweet spices and an imperceptible hint of mild tobacco. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, racy and offers juiciness, a beautiful delicacy of the grain, gourmandize, an acidulous frame, freshness, fullness as well as a small suavity, a small fat, a fine unctuosity, power (full of delicacy/control), precision and a beautiful guideline (full of finesse). On the palate this wine expresses notes of bright cassis, pulpy/juicy blackberry and small notes of juicy/bright raspberry associated with touches of bright redcurrant, lily, cornflower, liquorice as well as hints of dark chocolate, caramelization, toasted and a subtle hint of toasted cardamom. Good length. Tannins are precise, elegant and finely soft. A beautiful gourmandize and suavity in the finish/persistence.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Showing better from the bottle than in barrel, the wine is loaded with black and red berries, smoke, mocha, flowers and coffee bean. Elegant, refined, silky and fresh, the fruit offers this gorgeous sense of purity from the start continuing straight through to the vibrant, red berry packed finish. Fans of Branaire-Ducru should be all over this gem. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc.

Wine Enthusiast

A deceptively smooth texture and black fruits hide a wine that has great density and richness. Firm tannins lie beneath the ripeness. They will allow this wine to age, giving future concentration and depth. Drink the wine from 2027.

Adrian van Velsen - vvWine.ch

Falstaff

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Branaire-Ducru gives up plum preserves, baked blackcurrants, kirsch and boysenberries with hints of earth, tobacco, herbs and pencil lead. Medium-bodied, the palate is fresh and clean with herbal sparks and a slight chew to the texture, finishing savory.

James Suckling

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.