2006 CHÂTEAU BRANAIRE DUCRU 4ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
2006 CHÂTEAU BRANAIRE DUCRU 4ème Cru Classé Saint Julien
| Grapes: | Origin: France, Bordeaux |
Lea & Sandeman review
Deep colour, a healthy firm purple. Very pure, floral and fresh black fruit expressive nose. Sweet and taut, rounded with a sense of sucrosity. Tannins silky even if very present. The tannins levels are almost identical (or marginally higher) than in 2005, and the acidity is 0.4 higher, so its in many ways a very similar analysis, although the expression is different, very fresh, delicate and of great purity. 91/100Other reviews and comments
Deep colour, fine, softly extracted and pure blackcurrant fruit, lovely fragrance that carries through to a silkiness on the palate, prime example of the finesse of Saint-Julien. 2012-20.
****
www.decanter.com
Bright red-ruby. Pure, high-pitched nose offers blueberry, dark chocolate, menthol and cedary oak. Suave, sweet and serious, with lovely inner-mouth lift and energy and sneaky density of texture. Hints of pepper and herbs serve to perk up the wine. Not a particularly chocolatey style for Branaire. Finishes with a lovely light touch and plenty of structure for a leisurely evolution in bottle.
91(+?)
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
(67% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 4% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc) Bright ruby with a blue rim. Pure, floral aromas of dark berries, bitter chocolate, licorice, violet and mint. Dense, sweet and fine-grained, with a firm spine of acidity and a peppery nuance framing and enlivening the dark berry and mineral flavors. Quite youthfully tight, sappy and classically dry wine, finishing juicy and bright but not hard, with firm, building tannins. Already hints at the complexity to come.
90-93/100
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Very dark crimson with a blackish streak. So glossy. Indistinct and not especially expressive nose. Oddly a bit loose and unfocussed on the palate despite the dramatic look. Bit like a cup of tepid tea. Dies a little on the end though a great deal of effort has clearly gone into it. Fruit a bit smashed. Neat but fades. 2013-20
16
Jancis Robinson MW OBE - www.JancisRobinson.com
Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux continues to ratchet up the quality level at this impeccably run St.-Julien estate. The 2006 is similar to the 1996 Branaire, but with sweeter fruit. A deep ruby/purple hue precedes a perfumed nose of sweet boysenberries, black cherries, minerals, spring flowers, and a hint of pain grille in the background. Fresh, savory, medium to full-bodied flavors coat the palate with beautiful purity, no hard edges, ripe tannin, and intense fruit. This elegant, layered, impressive offering will be at its peak between 2012-2025.
92-94/100
Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
A superlative performance from Branaire Ducru, way above my previous appraisals for Mon. Maroutoux’s Saint Julien estate. It remains austere on the nose: blackberry, damson, even a touch of marmalade developing with aeration. Moderate definition. The palate is medium-bodied, ripe tannins, very powerful and intense, toasty black fruit laced with tar and graphite with a tannic, bold finish that demands more cellaring. Excellent.
92/100
Neal Martin's Wine Journal, erobertparker.com
Very solid, with good fruit and a complete core of ripe tannins. Medium- to full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a medium to full finish. I prefer this to the 2004. Very close to 92-94.
89-91/100
James Suckling, The Wine Spectator
A little muffled on the blackberry, cranberry and graphite scented nose that has a lot of vanillary new oak. The palate is full-bodied, layered with toasty black fruits laced with a touch of burnt toast. Supple tannins, very lithe and endearing, but like Beychevelle it needs more backbone. Still a fresh, pert finish with just a touch of greenness that detracts very little from the overall wine. Good potential.
89-91/100
Neal Martin's Wine Journal, erobertparker.com
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