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Branaire Ducru 2003

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Julien
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Branaire-Ducru

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Tasting Notes

This fully mature, gorgeous 2003 Branaire Ducru possesses silky tannins, lots of cedary, spice box, floral, black cherry, forest floor and velvety leather-like notes, full body, and an opulent, complex yet elegant style. A beauty of complexity, richness and finesse, it should continue to drink well for another 5-6 years. Drink 2014-2020

94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (914), August 2014

Opulent aromas of blackberry, olives and toasted oak follow through to a full-bodied palate, with big chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Big and muscular wine. Best after 2009. (JS)

James Suckling, Wine Spectator, March 2006

Rather sharp with simple, if smooth - almost soft - fruit, then chewy slightly green tannins. A bit raw. (Average group score: 16.1)

16
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, October 2010
91+
Farr Vintners, Southwold Bordeaux Tasting, January 2007
15.5
Michael Schuster, The World of Fine Wine (1), April 2004
Read more tasting notes...

Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux, president of Unions des Grands Crus Classes, is pulling out all the stops to make Branaire as alluring as several of the Leovilles and Ducru Beaucaillou. 2003 and 2004 may be the finest back-to-back vintages ever produced at Branaire. Even better than the 1982, the profound 2003 Branaire Ducru boasts a saturated plum/purple color as well as an extraordinarily complex nose of black currants, blackberries, espresso roast, white chocolate, minerals, and truffles. It displays amazing freshness and definition for such a complex, complete, and full-bodied wine. A brilliant effort in the vintage, it will undoubtedly close down in several years and need more time, but perhaps its low acidity and huge, extravagant fruit-forwardness will keep it drinking well over the next two decades. A brilliant wine!

95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006

A big sweet nose of chocolate-infused cappuccino, blackberries, and currants with some vanilla flavorings jump from the glass of this dense, saturated purple-colored wine. The wine has loads of fruit, a big, expansive, fleshy attack and mid-palate, and a long, concentrated finish with both definition and elegance. This concentrated but low-acid St.-Emilion should be delicious young yet age effortlessly for two decades. It is an impressive effort from proprietor Patrick Maroteaux, the president of the Unions des Grands Crus Classes. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2020.

91/94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (158), April 2005
92/94
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (152), April 2004
93
James Suckling, Wine Spectator (mar 31 06), March 2006

Blackberry and currant aromas and flavours, medium bodied with good tannins. Harmonious.

89/91
James Suckling, Wine Spectator (April 04), April 2004

Very dense with good refreshment. Fine tannins. Serious wine that has not been overdone.

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com (April 04), April 2004
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.