Branaire Ducru Vertical

The Market Brasserie at the Intercontinental at the O2, London
Tasted Wednesday, January 25, 2023 by Vinumming & Ahhing with 94 views

Flight 1 (1 Note)

  • 2021 Château Bouscaut Blanc 89 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Graves, Pessac-Léognan

    Takes a little time to get going but when it does a lovely grass / straw nose. Some bruised red apple and later a spot of tarragon. Palate is well balanced and has a lovely refreshing mouth puckering acidity. Probably one to drink up but a very pleasant start to the evening.

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Flight 2 (3 Notes)

  • 1966 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    I like this more than some around the table. It has a lovely delicacy from graceful aging with some Madeira cake, some baking parchment and later a little treacly richness. The palate has a little tea with the fading red fruits and a little demerara sugar. Lovely

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  • 1985 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Subtle green bell pepper here with some beefiness and a little smoky tea. This is delightful but very softly spoken. Not sure how it would wow people in an '85 horizontal but on its own and with some contemplation a charming mature wine.

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  • 1986 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 91 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Cigar box and leafy tobacco. Some white pepper on the finish, like so many '96s the tannins remain very much in the picture, here really fine grained, which is not the case with all '86s. Cassis character too. Wine of the flight for me.

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Flight 3 (3 Notes)

  • 1982 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 88 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Not sure if a slightly sub par bottle but on the nose this comes out of the blocks pretty well. Some pepperiness, some tomato leaf pungency and some sandalwood.
    The palate pretty rapidly shows a Mellow Birds (almost) coffee character. Not unpleasant but probably not what it should be.

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  • 1996 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Redcurrant leaf and menthol / minty character here that reminds some of Mouton. With time and air some blood orange exoticism. Palate very cool fruited and great balance. Tannins fully resolved. My WOTN.

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  • 2000 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Obviously a year or two younger than the 1996 it was served with. There is a little sweet / tart lift that reminds me of a peeled tomato alongside the tobacco and sandalwood. With time there is a little lime zest lift and a tiny spot of marzipan on the finish.

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Flight 4 (3 Notes)

  • 1989 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 90 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    This takes a little time to get going but charms when it does, this is fully evolved and has a slight liquorice character that I found in none of the other wines, fruit on the palate is plummy and warming. Good job.

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  • 2000 Château Lagrange (St. Julien) 93 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Profound dark fruited and green pepper nose with some cigar box and a little faint star anise. Palate has more of the same and whilst early in its window this gives huge pleasure tonight and wine I'd love to have in the cellar. My second WOTN.

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  • 2001 Château Branaire (Duluc-Ducru) 92 Points

    France, Bordeaux, Médoc, St. Julien

    Rich and slightly exotic, this is another dinner where I slightly prefer the greater freshness of a 2001 compared with a 2000 of the same chateau. The nose is more comely than the palate here as you might expect with a youngster like this. Has great potential and well priced in the market.

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