Chateau Branaire Ducru 2001

95 WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a marvelously complete wine, with its impressive ripe fruit, shining through the open structure. It is firm, but not too much. Stone black fruits are just perfectly ripe. There is just a core of dryness to compliment the rest of the wine." 17 JANCIS ROBINSON: "Mid ruby. Very light scent with a hint of game. Just a tiny bit animal. Good bite and orange-peel zest. Good balance and a hint of mint too. Solid stuff." 91 ANTONIO GALLONI: "(75% cabernet sauvignon, 19% merlot, 4% petit verdot and 2% cabernet franc; 3.77 pH; 13% alcohol): Good full ruby-red with a pale rim. Aromas of cassis and aromatic herbs are complicated by strong nuances of truffle and minerals. Dense, juicy and suave, displaying very pure, persistent flavors of cassis, gunflint, cedar and sweet spices. This wine really impresses with to its impeccable balance and sneaky concentration. It´s drinking perfectly now, but also has the structure and acid spine to age effortlessly another 20 years. The grapes were harvested later than usual, between October 1 and 14." - Ian D´Agata - Mar 2014. 90 WINESPECTATOR: "This is wonderfully perfumed, with blackberry, plum and light cherry character. Full-bodied, with well-integrated tannins and a medium finish. Outstanding. Close to the 2000 in quality. Best after 2007. 16,665 cases made." 90 THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Mushroom, cassis, mocha, tobacco and smoke make up the aromatics. This elegant, round, open style of Branaire that finishes with black cherry flavors is a pleasure to drink. And the best part is, not only does the wine show well today, it´s available for a song!"