CHATEAU BRANAIRE-DUCRU 4eme Grand Cru Classe 2018 Bottle

Description

The 2018 Château Branaire-Ducru is an opulent and muscular expression from this renowned Saint-Julien estate. In a year defined by a warm, generous summer, the 2018 offers a more concentrated profile than the more restrained, classic vintages. It displays a deep, ink-like colour, with a sophisticated nose of crème de cassis, black cherries, and hints of cedarwood, complemented by the estate’s signature touch of dark chocolate.

On the palate, it is full-bodied and beautifully textured, featuring ripe, velvety tannins that provide a sturdy backbone for the intense fruit. Despite its richness, it maintains a remarkable sense of freshness and poise, finishing with impressive length and elegance. This is a powerful, modern classic that will reward those with the patience to cellar it for several years.

JAMES SUCKLING 97 points
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.

VINOUS 96 points
Drinking window: 2026 - 2048
The 2018 Branaire-Ducru is every bit as captivating as it was en primeur. Ripe, silky tannins give the 2018 a striking air of sensuality that only grows as the wine sits in the glass. Succulent red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint, spice and gravel inflections all open more over time. Even with all of its natural radiance, Branaire remains a model of grace. It is unquestionably one of the under the radar wines of the year.

DECANTER 94 points
Drinking Window: 2028 - 2050
Really ripe, heady perfumed fruit on the nose, no longer just floral aromas but proper perfume, so expressive - wild and evocative, the first one to be so seductively evocative on the nose. Smooth and sleek with silky tannins, a hefty dose of spice and ripe blackcurrant, black cherry and blueberry but extremely refined so you get all the flavours but with softness and grace. This feels concentrated and powerful no doubt but it's calm also, restrained and just holding back. Bold, but beautiful. I like this a lot.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 93 points
Drink Date: 2023 - 2043
The 2018 Branaire-Ducru has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and an upfront, expressive nose of baked black plums, boysenberries and Morello cherries with an undercurrent of dried mint, spice box and underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate packs a very pleasant fruit wallop, featuring juicy black fruits and a firm, grainy frame, finishing long with lovely purity.