2007 Ch. Branaire-Ducru, St Julien

Ch. Branaire Ducru - Master of St. Julien. The wine of choice for the Bordeaux cognoscenti, Patrick Maroteau's stunning wine is close to the quality of the First Growths in 2007. With the same (albeit much riper) tannins as the 1996, Patrick ranks this as the 5th or 6th best Branaire of the last 15 years. The rich, fresh, almost porty nose of spicy damsons and blackberries simply oozes class while the precise, creamy cassis palate is as sleek and balanced as anything we have tasted. Fine grained tannins add structure while a long, pure black fruit, coffee and bitter chocolate finish is the icing on the cake.

Fine purple-red, good vibrant fruit and fine elegance and lively style, with good vineyard expression, a precise wine, balanced with good length.
(Steven Spurrier -Decanter)

Very dark crimson. Sweet blackberries on the nose - much riper than most. Very flashy! Tastes like Rolland style even if I can't immediately think of a St-Julien where Rolland consults. Blind, this didn't taste like a wine from the Barton stable to me…, although it was certainly much more luscious than the Léoville Barton.
(Jancis Robinson - www.jancisrobinson.com - Apr 08)