Branaire Ducru - Saint-Julien 2014

Vinous

91

byNeal Martinthe4/2/2024

The 2014 Branaire-Ducru has a "quieter" bouquet than its peers, a little muted at first, though well-defined with mainly black tertiary fruit laced with tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. It's a classically styled Saint-Julien that might lack a bit of substance for some on the finish, though it conveys a sense of drinkability. It's one of the few Left Bank wines to show better now than six years earlier. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Decanter.com

92

byGeorgina Hindlethe1/27/2023

Herbal nose, violets, blackcurrants, chocolate and exotic sweet spices; clove and cinnamon. Plump and fruit forward, this is confident and shines brightly out the glass. Round and nicely balanced, it's not at all plump, you could say this is severe in its directness and forward-focus on the palate, the flavours driving from start to finish. Tannins are super sleek but finely spiced so they just give the frame and edges while the fruit, soft chalkiness and minerality do most of the talking as opposed to the weight or the texture. Feels really well worked, nothing pushed too hard or too far. Nicely defined with direction and purity - everything in high definition. Just at the beginning of a lovely drinking period.

Vinous

89

byNeal Martinthe3/28/2018

The 2014 Branaire Ducru has a slightly uncouth bouquet compared to its peers: blackberry, blueberry, oyster shell and just a splash of cedar. It does not quite deliver the complexity of Beychevelle or Gruaud Larose. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth velvety texture, moderate acidity, pure black cherry and raspberry fruit. It is a seductive Saint Julien but at the moment it articulates more the winemaking than the terroir, consequently it does not provide the same engagement as its peers. Not showy, but certainly well crafted. There is more to come with bottle maturation. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Jeb DUNNUCK

90

byJeb Dunnuckthe11/30/2017

I was disappointed not be able to taste the 2015 from this estate, but the 2014 Branaire-Ducru showed well from a bottle purchased locally. Revealing a deep ruby/plum color and forward, sexy notes of black cherries, plums, leather, dried tobacco leaves and cedarwood, it offers impressive depth and density in the vintage, beautiful balance, and a rich, layered textured that has it already drinking nicely. It can be drunk anytime over the coming 20 years.

Wine Advocate

89

byNeal Martinthe3/31/2017

The 2014 Branaire-Ducru offers a mixture of red and black fruit on the nose, suffused with tobacco and pleasant undergrowth aromas, perhaps just missing the precision of the Beychevelle at the moment. The palate is supple on the entry with a slightly grainy texture, the acidity well judged, a little edginess towards the finish that just needs to must more depth, more drive. Not bad for the vintage, although I would like to see some improvement in bottle. Tasted twice with consistent notes.

Jamessuckling.com

93

byJames Sucklingthe2/16/2017

This is a slightly shy mid-weight wine that is anything but a flashy one. If you have some patience though it has plenty of subtlety and sophistication. Drink in 2021.

Vinous

93

byAntonio Gallonithe2/6/2017

The 2014 Branaire Ducru is soft, polished and super-inviting. Succulent red cherry, plum, lavender, spice and mint give the wine its attractive, open-knit personality, while silky tannins add to an overall impression of sensuality. The 2014 should drink well with minimal cellaring. Today, it is among the most accessible of the Saint-Juliens.

Wine Enthusiast

94

byRoger Vossthe2/2/2017

Spicy, rich and full of ripe fruit, this wine has great potential. It is structured and dense while bringing out a stylish elegance. Blackberry fruit dominates the tannins to create a wine that has both concentration and fine fruit. Drink from 2022.

Wine Spectator

93

byJames Molesworththe1/4/2017

Very pure and expressive, featuring lovely violet and cassis aromas and flavors that stream forth, backed by light anise and graphite hints. Maintains a fresh feel through the finish, with light minerality engaging with the fruit. Best from 2019 through 2028.—J.M.

Le Point

17

byJacques Dupontthe5/21/2015

Fruits noirs, mûre, réglisse, bouche douce, pulpeuse, fraîche, élégante, droite, cerise burlat, charnu et souple. De l’éclat, belle présence aromatique et des tanins pulpeux. 

Vinous

91-94

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2015

The 2014 Branaire Ducru is beautifully textured in the glass. Lavender, plum, mint and spice open up nicely in the glass. Initially quite dense and powerful, the 2014 turns more floral and lifted over time. Sweet red cherry, graphite, violet and licorice add further shades of dimension on the finish. Creamy, silky tannins add to an overall impression of sophistication. The style is round, supple and quite giving, even at this early stage. Tasted three times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

92-93

byJeff Levethe5/5/2015

With the blossoms of a black raspberry bramble with a quick sift of white pepper, mocha and earth in the perfume, this wine is all about its elegant tannins, the finesse, freshness and purity of the sweet black and crisp, spicy red fruits. Produced from a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc. The wine reached 13.5% alcohol with a pH of 3.63. 92-93 Pts

Wine Advocate

90-92

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2015

The Château Branaire-Ducru is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot and 2% Cabernet Franc picked between 24 September with the early-ripening Merlot, and finishing on 11 October. The yields came in at 40 hectoliters per hectare and Patrick Maratoux explained the importance of waiting for the correct maturity of each parcel. It has a tightly wound bouquet with black cherries and orange peel aromas, focused if not quite as complex as say, Château Beychevelle. The palate is medium-bodied, sinewy in the mouth with tensile tannins. This is a wine that seems to be making a huge effort in this vintage, but I would like to see more finesse manifested on the finish by the time it is in bottle. You know, I think that will develop. That 12 to 13% vin de presse lends this Branaire Ducru impressive sustain on the finish and I suspect that it will coalesce throughout the barrel ageing in two-thirds new oak (though the sample shown at the château was 100% new oak).

Asian Palate

88

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2015

This Branaire-Ducru is solid and balanced with plum, blackberry and firm tannins. Tannins are quite elevated and several years in bottle will be necessary before it is ready to drink. Well made sound wine with balance and supple texture.

Decanter.com

17,25

bySteven Spurrierthe4/17/2015

Very well-expressed ripe Cabernet fruit with elegant structure and good length. Never showy at the start of its life, this is a classic Branaire that needs to age. Drink: 2019-2030 (90+)

Jancis Robinson

16

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2015

Dark crimson. Energetic nose. Fairly light palate without that much concentration. Round, with less tannic charge than most. Serviceable. A little scrawny on the finish.  Drink 2022-2030 (16+)

Jamessuckling.com

92-93

byJames Sucklingthe4/10/2015

This really builds on the palate with round and velvety tannins and a juicy, savory finish. Layered and complex. Shows real potential.

timatkin.com

90

byTim Atkin MWthe4/7/2015

René Gabriel

18

byRené Gabrielthe4/1/2015

Sattes Purpur-Granat, dicht in der Mitte, lila Schimmer aussen. Selten hatte ein Branaire beim Primeur eine so dunkle Farbe. Reifes Bouquet, fast eine rahmige Fülle anzeigend, die Frucht suggeriert Holunder und Cassisnoten. Im Gaumen fest, ausgeglichene Adstringenz, tolles Rückaroma. Es gibt heuer nur ganz wenige Grand Crus, welche deren eigene Leistung der Jahre 2010 mit dem 2014er toppen. Ich setze diesen genial gelungenen Branaire mit Überzeug auf seine hohe Wertung. Das wäre dann auch das Ende einer langen Nichteinkaufsdurststrecke. 18/20 2024 – 2048

Wine Enthusiast

95

byRoger Vossthe4/1/2015

94–96. Barrel Sample. Dark tannins over black plum skins dominate this wine. It has a rich concentration both of tannin and fruit, giving a wonderful array of aromas and flavors as well as the structure for aging.  — R.V.  (4/1/2015)

Wine Spectator

91-94

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2015

Focused and a touch austere for now, with a charcoal edge to the core of black currant and steeped fig fruit. Tobacco and bramble notes check in on the finish, andthere's solid acidity in reserve. Well-built and should evolve nicely.