92-
94
THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Flowery notes of red and black currants, mocha, spice, cedar, and tobacco are what you initially notice on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied, silky, elegant, and refined, with a core of fruits leaning towards the red side of the spectrum, showcasing cherry, red currant, and strawberry. Vibrant, though not excessively so, this is a silky, fresh, perfumed, classically styled Branaire Ducru. The purity here truly makes an impression. You can enjoy this with pleasure quite early in its life and count on at least 20 more years of enjoyment. The wine blends 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 8.5% Cabernet Franc, and 2.5% Petit Verdot. 13% ABV. The harvest took place September 20 - October 9. Yields were large at 41 hectoliters per hectare. 62% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2028-2052."
92
FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Rote Herzkirschen, zart nach Lakritze, florale Nuancen, feine Kräuterwürze, Mandarinenzesten sind unterlegt. Saftig, rotbeerig und schwungvoll, finessenreicher Säurebogen, mineralisch und anhaftend, ein vielseitiger Speisenbegleiter."
91
ANSON: "Lovely bright plum colour, slim blue and black fruits, coffee bean and cedar oak notes, carefully constructed with balance, a little short on the finish compared to the excellent recent vintages at Branaire. 55% new oak. 41.5 hl/ha, this is the first vintage with the new cellars, François-Xavier Maroteaux owner and new president of the Union de Grands Crus de Bordeaux."
90-
92
THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2024 Branaire-Ducru offers up a pretty and precise bouquet of cassis, violets and pencil shavings. Medium-bodied, supple and suave, with polished tannins and tangy acids, it's a fine-boned, delicate wine from Branaire that was harvested between 20 September and 9 October. It's a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that attained 12.8% alcohol, and it's being raised in a touch less new oak than usual."
91
VINUM: "Erstaunlich reiffruchtig in diesem Jahr; Pflaumen, Kirschen, Cassis, auch angekohltes Holz; am Gaumen würziger und deutlich leichtfüssiger als in anderen Jahren, leicht flockiges Tannin, feiner Säurenerv; rotfruchtig und wiederum würzig im Rückaroma. Für die mittlere Reife gebaut."
