Chateau Branaire Ducru 2017

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "An elegantly structured wine, this is both juicy and packed with tannins. Ripe berry flavors are equally prominent in this balanced wine. The wine's future is promising; drink from 2024. "

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "On the fresh, lifted classic side, with good length, purity, elegance and polished tannins, the finish is clean, crisp and focused on this beautiful core of sweet, red fruits."

WINE SPECTATOR: "A polished style, with a perfumed mesquite note draped over a core of plum and blackberry puree flavors. The finish lingers, with a mineral hint amid the fruit. Pure and aromatic. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032. 15,000 cases made."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Notes of raspberries and orange peel with tar on the nose and palate. Medium body, firm and silky tannins and a fresh, lively finish. Pleasing young red. Better after 2021."

DECANTER: "Again the construction and the overall fabric of the wine is delicate, well structured and attractive. It has the same austerity that I am finding in all of the St-Juliens but this is perky with lovely redcurrant, shaved chocolate and hawthorn notes, and tannins that feel beautifully fine. Again, I wouldn't give it the full 10 years before beginning to drink and suggest it is more likely to act like the 2011 and come into its own within six or seven years."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The deep purple-colored 2017 Château Branaire-Ducru offers a fresh, focused, classic style in 2017. Beautiful spring flowers, black and blue fruits, and a kiss of minerality all emerge from this medium-bodied effort that has nicely integrated acidity, a balanced, clean texture, and plenty of mid-palate depth. My money is on this ending up being an outstanding wine."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, verhalten, zarte schwarze Beerenfrucht, ein Hauch von Dörrobst, zart animalische Nuancen. Mittlerer Körper, rote Kirschen, feine Tannine, mineralischer Touch frisch strukturiert, ein lebendiger Speisenbegleiter."