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Branaire Ducru 2005

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

Label

Tasting Notes

Floral nuances combined with lots of mulberry, raspberry and sweet blackcurrant fruit are followed by a medium to full-bodied, beautifully pure, textured, complex wine with soft tannin. It should drink well relatively early on (2-3 years) and last 15 or more. Drink 2015 - 2030.

93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (219), June 2015

The Château Branaire Ducru 2005 has a ripe bouquet with red berry fruit laced with marmalade, cedar and sous-bois. It is a little more approachable than its peers, more expressive. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a little grainy in texture with a well balanced cedar-infused finish that is quite linear and strict. This will be earlier drinking than other 2005 Saint Juliens, but its easy-going style belies what will probably be a long-term wine. Drink 2018 - 2040

92
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, February 2015
92
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, February 2008

Tasted blind. Blackish crimson. Sweet and relatively simple on the nose. Charming but not subtle. Chunky tannins. Dry finish.
Drink 2017-2036

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, March 2017

Dark red-ruby. Plum, chocolate and some exotic smoky oak on the nose. Lush, smooth and sweet but not at all over the top; offers unusual volume and breadth for Branaire. The exotic aspect carries through on the palate, and yet this wine is holding plenty of material in reserve. Finishes with building tannins and excellent length. Offers superb potential for aging.

94
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, June 2008

Multi-dimensional nose, offering keen fruits, a mineral note and smoky oak. Luscious, alluring, with red berry fruits, refreshing acidity and balance. Drink from 2012. Awarded 5 stars.

18.5+
Decanter.com, Decanter.com, July 2008

Came 40th out of 184 wines

16.73
-, Southwold Bordeaux Tasting, January 2009
Read more tasting notes...

As usual, the 2005 Branaire-Ducru is one of the more distinctive wines of St.-Julien. Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux has turned out another classic. While not as opulent or fleshy as the 2003, and it remains to be seen if it will eclipse the 2000, the 2005 is a big, structured, intensely rich effort with raspberry, blueberry, and spring flower garden characteristics, stunning purity, full-bodied power, and good underlying acidity as well as harmony. The hard tannins suggest 8-9 years of cellaring will be beneficial; it should last for three decades. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030+.

95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (176), April 2008

Proprietor Patrick Maroteaux has been doing everything right since the late nineties, and, along with the monumental 2003 and 2000, the 2005 is one of his crowning achievements. It exhibits a dense ruby/purple color along with a sumptuous nose of raspberry liqueur interwoven with blueberries, crushed rocks, lead pencil shavings, and spring flowers. A big, structured St.-Julien revealing layers of fruit and glycerin, fabulous purity, and full-bodied power and richness, it will be long-lived, but is more backward than either the 2003 or 2000. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2030+.

94/96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

Branaire, which has been ratcheting up the quality level over the last 5-6 years, made such a great 2003, I am hesitant to suggest the 2005 is as good, or even better. It will undoubtedly come down to consumer’s personal preference, with the 2003 more exotic and flamboyant, and the 2005 more structured or “classic.” In any event, the 2005 is one of the top Branaires ever made. Its inky/ruby/purple color is followed by sweet aromas of spring flowers interwoven with black cherries, cranberries, cassis, plums, and hints of forest floor, wet rocks, and new oak. With wonderful purity, full body, terrific fruit intensity, a beautiful, expansive texture, and a stunning 45-50-second finish, it should be at its peak between 2011-2030.

94/96
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (164), April 2006

Very pretty flowers, berry and cherry on the nose, with just a hint of currant. Full-bodied, with big velvety tannins and a medium finish. Lots of fruit and focused character. We will see if it equals the 2003.

92/94
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2006

Mid crimson. Light and fragrant. Lightweight for a 2005 but it's all in balance even if a little timid. Correct but on the constipated side of red bordeaux. I think strictly of interest to the converted. Dry finish. 13%
Drink 2020-2035

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2015

Neat, well-balanced nose. Not the most concentrated but satisfying. Very harmonious and very 2005 even if the finish shows the acid and tannin pretty forcefully

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, February 2009

Relatively pale crimson. Frank, direct, simple Cabernet aromas. Nice limpid texture. Good dry oak. Very relaxed and at ease. Lovely silkiness on the front and marked dryness on the finish. Absolutely not forced. Neat finish. Drink 2016-22

17.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2006
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.