Branaire Ducru - Saint-Julien 2007

Gilbert & Gaillard magazine

94 / 100

the1/31/2011

Deep colour. Endearing nose with fruit in a lead role, no trace of heat or excessive concentration, no obtrusive oak. Fullness and mellowness throughout, a touch of freshness, quite unusual for the vintage, highlighting the fruit. Extremely charming.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe8/30/2010

Deep red-ruby. Rich aromas and flavors of cassis, dark cherry, smoke, tropical chocolate and minerals, complemented by sexy oak tones. Then rich without any undue weight on the palate, combining density, intensity of flavor and vinosity. Offers real palate presence without thickness of texture. This very young wine finishes with fine-grained tannins and subtle notes of pepper and herbs. Still a bit youthfully austere and in need of cellaring. (90(+?) points)

Wein Wisser

16 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2010

Dunkles Granat, recht satt in der Mitte, rubinroter Rand. Schön röstiges Bouquet, Nussnoten, Kaffee und frisch gebackene Schwarzbrotkruste. Gut stützende Säure mit knapp reifen Johannisbeeren, leicht mehliges Tannin, aber schon bald mit erster Genussreife. Gastronomischer Branaire mit Charme. trinken –2017

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2010

An outstanding effort, Branaire-s 2007 exhibits floral-infused black raspberry, boysenberry, and mulberry notes as well as a decidedly blue fruit character. Attractive, elegant, and medium to full-bodied with beautiful fruit, density, and texture, it should drink well for 10-12 years... Drink 2010-2022

Wine Spectator

88 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2010

This spicy red offers currant and violet on the nose. Full-bodied, with very silky tannins and a long, caressing finish. Needs a little more fruit in the midpalate to be outstanding. Best after 2011.

Jancis Robinson

16.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe10/27/2009

Impressive depth of colour. And of perfum. This wine does not want to admit it's a less than perfect vintage on the nose. Very solid and fragrant with the acidity pretty well hidden. Pretty solid and workmanlike but a reasonable attempt at cru classé expression. In Patrick Maroteaux's opinion, it's better in structure than the 2006.

GaultMillau

15-16 / 100

the7/31/2008

Beau nez intense marqué par le cassis. Le vin est dense avec une belle matière et de beaux tanins serrés. Un vin très harmonieux, un grand classique.

Decanter Magazine

4 / 5

bySteven Spurrierthe6/30/2008

Fine purple red. Vibrant fruit, fine elegance and lively style. Good vineyard expression. A precise wine, balanced with length. 2012-2020.

Vinum

16,75 / 20

the6/30/2008

Schöne, komplexe Aromatik von Gewürzen und Beeren; im Mund von grosser Präzision, mit dichten, aber feinkörnigen, kaum bitteren Tanninen, intensives, fruchtiges Finale. 2014 bis 2020. Sehr Gut bis hervorragend.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88-91 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

(63% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 4% petit verdot and 3% cabernet franc; 3.79 pH) Bright ruby color. Perfumed, rather high-pitched aromas of cassis, licorice, minerals, bitter chocolate and camphor. Juicy, tight and pure, with slightly lean flavors of blueberry, blackberry, violet and fresh herbs given energy by juicy acidity. Quite stylish and firm for the year, if not quite as dense or structured as the 2006.

Falstaff

86-88 / 100

the6/30/2008

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, jugendliche Reflexe, violetter Rand. In der Nase frische Weichselaromen, ein Hauch von Lemongrass, zart nach Kakao. Am Gaumen rund und süß, eher weiche Textur, zart nach Nougat, eher leichtfüßig, Zwetsckenfrucht, bleibt etwas kurz.

La Revue du Vin de France

16-17 / 20

the5/31/2008

La sélection a été particulièrement sévère, il en résulte un vin bien tramé, élégant et constitué. Le nez offre une joli bouquet de soupe de framboise et la bouche possède de la mâche, du volume, mais aussi une colonne vertébrale tannique fondue qui lui confère un côté très élégant et droit. La finale possède une bonne intensité et surtout de la fraîcheur.

Le Point

16,5-17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/15/2008

Nez fruits rouges, framboise, tanins doux, souples, très cabernet mais de belle qualité, joli fruit, long, tendu, élégant, moins touffu qu'autrefois, qui a gagné en élégance.

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/5/2008

Wein Wisser

16 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/2/2008

TAST

16,5-17 / 20

the4/28/2008

Un des mieux constitués de l’histoire récente du château, beaucoup de finesse et de délicatesse dans la texture, dans un corps plein, plus harmonieux et plus entier à la naissance que celui du 2006.

Wine Advocate

87-89 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/18/2008

A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc. It has a ripe nose of black cherries, raspberry and an almost sorbet like quality, although it is lacking a little delineation with a baked red cherry becoming stronger. Modern in style, a lot of new oak predominating lending it a smooth, cohesive feel although more difficult to discern that fruit at this stage. Good ripeness, although it is just a little monotonous compared to others. Hopefully it will gain more complexity by time of bottling. Tasted April 2008.

Jancis Robinson

15 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2008

Dark purplish. Light nose with nothing out of place. Pretty astringent on the finish. Green finish, even. A reasonably easy drink but not one you would want to pay first growth prices for.

Wine Spectator

87-90 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/31/2008

This shows impressive concentration of fruit for the vintage, with plenty of currants and violets, as well as blackberries. Full and silky. Slightly hollow in the center palate, but very pretty. —J.S.

TAST Pro

the4/30/2006

Beau Saint-Julien: robe assez profonde, nez fin de petits fruits rouges et de cassis, bouche droite, élegante, tanin fin, de bonne dimension et d'aristocratique fraîcheur.