1999 Château Branaire-Ducru
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Tasting notes
Critic scores
Wine Spectator
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Rather dull nose and very dusty tannins. I just can't see why anyone would pay this money for this relatively little reward. Sorry. Pretty chewy tannins. Finishes suddenly. (JR)
Very simple, crude and unresolved. Lots of tannin. Needs quite a time! (JR)
The 1999 Branaire is from an under-rated estate. This is a beautifully perfumed effort revealing scents of graphite, lead pencil shavings, blueberries, raspberries, and black currants. The wine is rich, layered, medium-bodied, pure, and elegant. It is a complex St.-Julien with good flavor depth, soft tannin, and unobtrusive acidity. Drink it now and over the next 12-15+ years.
About the producer
This Fourth Growth estate, just a stone’s throw from the wide expanse of the Gironde estuary, has been revitalised under the stewardship of former banker and businessman Patrick Maroteaux, who purchased the property in 1988.