Chateau Branaire Ducru 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "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."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Showing better from the bottle than in barrel, the wine is loaded with black and red berries, smoke, mocha, flowers and coffee bean. Elegant, refined, silky and fresh, the fruit offers this gorgeous sense of purity from the start continuing straight through to the vibrant, red berry packed finish. Fans of Branaire-Ducru should be all over this gem. The wine is a blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "A deceptively smooth texture and black fruits hide a wine that has great density and richness. Firm tannins lie beneath the ripeness. They will allow this wine to age, giving future concentration and depth. Drink the wine from 2027."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A beautiful Saint-Julien, the 2018 Château Branaire-Ducru reveals a deep purple color as well as ample, earthy cassis and blackberry fruits intermixed with sous bois, earth, lead pencil, and cedar. With that classic Saint-Julien pure fruit, sumptuous aromas and flavors, sweet yet present tannins, and a solid spine of acidity, it's going to need 5-7 years to hit maturity yet should keep for 20-25 years or more. I don't think it's going to match the blockbuster 2009 (it's more in the pretty, elegant style of the 2016), but it's a gorgeous, elegant wine you will love to have in the cellar."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Schwarze Beeren, etwas Marzipan und Nougat, frische Kirschen, dezenter Edelholztouch. Komplex, dunkles Waldbeerkonfit, feine Tannine, extraktsüß im Abgang, ein zarter schokoladiger Ton im Nachhall, zeigt gute Länge, wirkt leichtfüßig und zugänglich. (2020–2040)"

WINE SPECTATOR: "Pure and driven, with expressive cassis and plum puree aromas and flavors carried by a graphite edge and backed with applewood, licorice root and tobacco notes. Lovely energy throughout. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2037."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "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."

DECANTER: "A little subdued, this has firm tannic hold, clear raspberry, blackberry and cassis fruits, along with hawthorn, brambles and touches of black pepper. Young and will go the distance, though lacks a little magic. Drinking Window 2026 - 2040"

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur mit opaker Mitte und zartem rubinrotem Rand. Betörendes Bouquet mit reifen Schattenmorellen, Brombeergelee und Lakritze, dahinter helle Schokolade und Preiselbeermus. Am festen Gaumen mit fein sandiger Extraktfülle und fest zupackendem Tanningerüst, ein maskuliner St. Julien, vor Kraft strotzend, kein Frühcharmeur. Im konzentrierten Finale eine volle Ladung schwarzer Johannisbeeren, dominikanischer Tabak und einer zarten kernigen Note im Untergrund."