2018 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien

Name: 2018 Branaire-Ducru, St-Julien
SKU: 1407916
Price: 66.99 USD
Availability: OutOfStock
Rating: 82.875 (11 reviews)

Pre-Arrival

97JS

96VN

95WE

94JD

94WS

92-94RP

93DC

$66.99

This item is out of stock, would you like to save it and be notified when it's back?

James Suckling

Reviewed March 2021

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.

Your wine. Your timing.

Take possession when your pre-arrivals are ready, or choose managed storage with RareStorage.

60 days free on K&L purchases. Then $0.40 per bottle/month. $9.50 monthly minimum.

Set pre-arrival preference Details & rates

Professional Reviews

Vinous

Review Date: 03/2021

The 2018 Branaire-Ducru is every bit as captivating as it was en primeur. Ripe, silky tannins give the 2018 a striking air of sensuality that only grows as the wine sits in the glass. Succulent red/purplish fruit, lavender, rose petal, mint, spice and gravel inflections all open more over time. Even with all of its natural radiance, Branaire remains a model of grace. It is unquestionably one of the under the radar wines of the year. (AG)

Wine Enthusiast

Review Date: 03/2021

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. *Cellar Selection* (RV)

Jeb Dunnuck

Review Date: 03/2021

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.

Staff Reviews

Ryan Moses

K&L Buyer

I've always admired Branaire Ducru, but I've never been captured by a vintage of their wine in the same way as their splendid 2018. A core of bright red fruit and hint of cherry cola carries to a resounding finish. It is intense, full, but always refined. Tasted on four occasions, it never ceased to be one of the best wines in the room and is one of the great highlights of a superlative St-Julien vintage.

Gary Westby

This beguiling wine was the surprise stand out of our 2018 St. Julien tasting. It has a showy, pure, intense nose of top quality cassis. In the mouth it is remarkably graceful despite its concentration and power. Everything is in the right place! I love the excellent lift and acidity on the super long finish. What a wine! It is composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 28% Merlot, 4% Petite Verdot and 3% Cabernet Franc.

Ralph Sands

In my opinion Saint-Julien is definitely a sweet spot in the 2018 vintage. Branaire is an absolute beauty! Prue, plump red fruit with great freshness, elegance and most importantly great tasting and a complete wine. This wine hits all the marks of greatness and is a 3 Star wine and one of the best wines of the vintage. It will drink a bit earlier and give more pleasure than most wines in 2018. Ralph Sands

Notes

92-94 points Neal Martin in Vinous: "The 2018 Branaire-Ducru was picked from 19 September until 10 October at 53hl/ha and it is currently being aged in 60% new oak. Now this has a really fine bouquet, classic in style but with more fruit intensity than the 2017: blackberry, bilberry, cedar and a touch of singed leather. It is very Saint-Julien. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin. Notes of blackcurrant, raspberry, black pepper and cedar with fine acidity and more substance on the finish compared directly with the preceding vintage. Having visited this property for 20 years, I can safely say that this is the most impressive Branaire-Ducru that I have encountered at this stage." (11/2019)

Details

Type	Red Wine
Varietal	Cabernet Sauvignon and Blends
Origin	Saint Julien, Bordeaux, France
Bottle Size	750 mL
SKU	1407916