Such great value for money I would stock up on this mature St Julien. Decanted and drank over 2 hours. Dark ruby red color with some density to the body. Nose typical of 96 left bank, mature aromas of leather, pencil lead, perfumed cassis, black currants and hints of blackberries given the richness of the dark fruit. On the palate very delineated, well structured, some gaminess to it reminiscent of Chateau Margaux 96, yes I do mean Margaux! Beautifully crafted, complex structure, some sweetness to the tannins, velvety finish, decent length and expansive. This is hitting way above its weight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
So much Brett its hard to to find anything else. Not putting it as flawed since others might like this style but I don't. Fourth bottle from same case and the Brett takes over more and more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux night: Both Branaires showed similarly and punched well above their weight. Old-school in a good way with a little brett and rusticity that benefited rather than detracted from the wine, energetic dark red fruit for its age. In a great spot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Delicious fully mature left bank St Julien. Deep crimson red color, cork half soaked. Easily beat a 2000 Beychevelle drunk alongside. Nose of cassis, pepper, dark red currants, some pencil lead. Medium bodied on the palate, hedonistic, slightly austere but quite pleasurable finishes with decent length and complexity with tannins well resolved but subtly persistent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Le nez est superbe : fruit, graphite, cuir, léger sous-bois, on ne s'en lasse pas ! Bouche dynamique, précise avec une jolie matière qui enrobe l'ensemble. Superbe équilibre, très classe, un verre en chasse l'autre !
A nouveau une belle rencontre avec Branaire 96. Il possède tout ce qu'on attend d'un bordeaux à maturité !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The 1996 Branaire shows black and red cherry notes which offer some appeal even if the whole package comes across as rather anemic. There’s some brett-derived aroma alongside in the form of barnyard; this isn’t too overwhelming but you do find yourself asking what else is there. Drying tannins and a shortish finish don’t bode particularly well for the future. It’s interesting to think about where Branaire-Ducru was in the hierarchy of St Julien in 1996 as compared to where they are now - the estate has progressed in leaps and bounds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravin fun - Caronne Ste Gemme and Branaire Ducru (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Blackcurrant tends to Cassis, earthy, leather, a little Autumn leaves, cedar, very slight mushrooms and umami. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, wild black fruits vie for attention with quite coarsely grainy tannins, a little fruit sweet core sits' beneath this, finishes with leather, earth and umami notes. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wow. Big positive surprise. Cork almost not soaked. Colour: lighter red , rim starting to turn orange Smell: right after opening, tertiary aromas dominate in particular roasted coffee. After an hour fruit, especially cassis is showing up. Graphite, green pepper. Taste: medium bodied, elegant good balance, nice acidity, dry, medium long finish. Fresh. Red and dark fruits . After an hour emerge menthol and raspberry ( I never tasted it that distinctly in any wine), liquorice . Perfect now. Enjoy over the next 10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Pretty tight and defensive before decanting, a lot of barn funk and a little metallic that decreased over time with air. The high acidity with a sour cherry characteristic dominates the palate. Long finish with leather and forest floor. My guess is that this could run for at least 5-10 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Decanted an hour before dinner; he fill was base neck and the cork was sound. Deep garnet core with a touch of bricking. Complex and classic bouquet, with notes of bramble, currants, cigar box, and forest floors; hints of crushed stones. Medium bodied, balanced, fresh; silky texture, good concentration, excellent delineation and focus on the long and savory finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravin fun - Collantes and Branaire Ducru (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Smells 'rounder' than the 95, a sense of balance and ripeness; black cherry and plum, sweet and five spice, cream, leather, freshly tilled earth, a little more alcohol prickle and, with time, Autumn leaves and mushrooms...lovely nose. In the mouth it's juicy, savoury, earthy and meaty with wild cherry and plums, tannins are grainy and drying but support rather than dominate. Long. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted two hours before dinner. Deep to medium garnet, with just a hint of bricking. Notes of cigar box, roasted fennel, dried black fruits and earth. Medium bodied, silky texture, good depth and balance; long and focused finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bottle open 2 hours before consuming and consumed over an hour or so. I really liked the nose, complex, typical St Julien, elegant, noble wood, tertiary notes, black fruit. The palate is elegant, fresh, a bit thin for my liking. lean and long. as the time went by, the acidity picked up. good wine but not really hedonistic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Attractively open nose with earthy cedar scents, the palate is consistent with the bouquet with rich and a bit sweet cedar and cassis flauvors, mouldy forest floor, moist leather, hints of licorice and austere characteristics often found in left banks. Fruit is nicely there complemented by good acidity but the tannins are accentuated making this somewhat unbalanced and maybe even disjointed. More years in the cellar does not necessarily fix this. Nevertheless I found this enjoyable but to some this maybe challenging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
From Coravin. Biscuit, cream, leather, black cherry over plum and blackcurrant, sweet spice, cigar box, fresh tobacco leaf, graphite. Juicy, fleshy, fruity in a very good spot, talc textured tannins but wonderfully balanced, still has time but lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
really drinking beautifully now. Hint baby poo on nose. Tannins are divine, soft and ripe, but persistent. Structurally is outstanding. long complex, cassis, black olive, sandalwood, and rounded even, seamless palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
PnP Nose is mostly savory. Lots of spice, and a light smokiness. Beef jerky and a touch of tobacco. Well integrated in the mouth. Again light fruit, moderate acid, moderate tannin, medium bodied. All in all this is fine. Might be past it’s prime or in a dumb phase. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bottle was is good shape and the cork came out without any trouble. Color was a nice light to medium garnet. Nose was earthy, funky with a bit of bacon but no fruit. After an hour in the decanter i tasted it. It was smooth but not good. It was not flawed, just aging like Kathleen Turner. Basically a mouthful of moss, asparagus with a little meat/bacon. My wife liked it enough to have a glass, I opted for a single malt.
Next day it was even worse - poured out.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Coravin fun - new arrivals (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Smells dense with dark, brooding fruit, sweet spice, leather, cigar box, polished oak, a little cream and caramel. Juicy, fleshy but still quite dense dark fruit, the tannins are silky but drying, fruit caries and becomes more leathery, woody and dried out on the finish. With time a fair amount of farmyard on the nose as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Moderately translucent dark ruby color with a little bit of developed brick-red hue and a very pale red rim. The nose feels somewhat restrained and, at first, somewhat metallic, but opens up to reveal dark-toned notes of ripe blackcurrants and other dark fruits, some leathery tones, a little bit of animal roughness, hints of leafy tones and a touch of pipe tobacco. Overall a very classic nose. The wine feels quite full-bodied, pretty dense and rather firm on the palate with savory yet still surprisingly youthful and pretty intense flavors of ripe blackcurrants, some tobacco, a little bit of peppery spice, hints of leather and a touch of mushroomy sous-bois. Overall the wine is structured and pretty tightly-knit with high acidity and firm, moderately grippy tannins. The finish is long and complex with somewhat developed flavors of wizened dark cherries, some fresh blackcurrants, a little bit of leather, hints of plums and prunes and a touch of tobacco,
A very nice and - for a +20 yo claret - still surprisingly youthful and stern St. Julien. Only the color seems to betray the age of the wine, as the nose feels very little developed for a wine this old and the palate even less so. At first the wine didn't seem that pleasant due to the metallic element in the nose, but fortunately the wine blew that aroma off pretty quickly. Overall the wine is pretty solid effort, although still surprisingly stern, even - I daresay - somewhat inapproachable now. Now the wine is good like a claret should be, but I have a hunch that the wine is still some way away from its plateau of maturity and it will start showing better in a decade or so. Obviously a wine built for the long run. Worth the money at 50€.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #117; Bordeaux St. Julien except Léoville wines.... (By VD and @ VD): In the bouquet mainly dark berries, some red berries as well, earth, cedar and blood. On the palate the first impression is that the wine is not a 100% fresh, but that disappears after a while. Then there are dark and red berries and cherries, bell pepper, earth, a bit rustic and earthy. The tannin is slightly edgy. Overall a beautiful wine which is ready now and will drink lovely over the next 2 - 3+ years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened by Mark. Decanted back into the bottle 3hoirs before drinking. Moderate sediment. Garnet color. Meaty nose. Notes of cocoa, licorice, iron and black fruit. Integrated tannins. Round finish with a slightly bitter edge. 91 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened and decanted and drank about 1.5 hours later. Was next to an '05 Pontet Canet and a '94 La Mouline (aka we weren't drinking badly this night). Still almost on the young side, lots of leather and pencil shavings and barnyard. I liked it a lot although I think it might have been my third of those three. Much more open than the PC which was prob more of a baby killing, but I saw some great potential there.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+: Garnet core, some age with the bricking; very Bordeaux on the nose, sweaty, stinky, wet earth, green pepper, Bandaid, leather; softened tannin, sweet leather, cherry, still good fruit; starting to drink well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened a bottle to share with my soul mate over a dinner at Taste Paradise, ION Orchard tonight.
Colour was dark brown with red hues on the edge. On the nose the wine is charming with aromas of raspberries, cassis and liquorice.
On the palate the wine is soft, elegant, feminine and gets more complex over the course of the dinner. Some leathery and oaky notes, and the presence of fruits and acidity keeps the wine in good shape and structure. After an hour in the decanter the wine appears to be more approachable and enjoyable.
The balance of all the key elements makes this wine a memorable one. This is one of the reasons why St Julien remains one of my favourite appellations in Bordeaux.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Double decanted for 1.5hrs. Needs a bit of decanting for sure. Careful with sediment too. Pretty much in line with our encounter 3 years ago albeit a bit more elegant but with less fruit. Bottle variation or evolution? Well secondary, leather, forest floor. The fruit seemed to be drying out which is the only concern we had for it but a very enjoyable wine nonetheless. 90-91 drink now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
2 hour decant. Cigar box, cedar and cassis notes on the nose. Very fruit forward on the palate, with a beautiful rounded texture. Good length finish, very elegant and nicely made St. Julien.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Great Bordeaux! Still in early stages of its plateau. Still lots of fruit combined with a good tannic structure that should keep it for years. Beautiful and elegant. Notes of cedar and cigar box combined with black fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
mature Bordeaux wine evening (The Traklin Wine-Bistro): dark red classic tertiary aromas of sweet cherry fruit, sweet tobacco with hints of leather & tar. med bodied, soft tannins, powerful, lush, silky & long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Another great bottle of mature Médoc. Tasted next to Lafon Rochet in same vintage. Both were perfectly mature and shows all you want from a classic Bordeaux.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine had a medium garnet color. The nose was a bit more closed than my previous bottle of recent consumption. It actually exhibited more masculine Bordeaux notes showing more earth than floral. I'll chalk it up to bottle variation. Alas, there are more! EG WineArchitect, #Chateau Branaire
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Aromas of blackberry, cigar box and menthol. In the mouth, there are good notes of the blackberries, then a second wave of red cherries, but the sensations are smothered still by some rather bitter tannins. Not bad, but I don't think there is enough fruit to outlast the grip of the tannins, which will eventually subside. In the context of the vintage, I found this rather disappointing - if you don't believe me, try a Gruaud 96 at the same price or close...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Classic! Sweet cherry fruit, sweet tobacco, hints of leather & tar. Not big, powerful or deep, but very lush, silky & long. Tannins have melted away. This is in it's prime. Drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The wine pours a rusty purplish color. There are medium legs that cling onto the glass. What a captivating nose! The wine smells of chocolate, prunes, a lot of fruit (classic Saint Julien), truffles, tobacco and aged leather. Restrained but great concentration for sure despite the age. Great layering on the palate with velvety structures. Much fruit and acidity come to the fore before drying smokiness round things out. Tannins are definitely there though already integrated. Drinking very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Can't imagine that this will improve more, but it's in a great place right now. A bit rust colored. Sweet cedar nose with terrific floral qualities too. Great sweet luscious fruit with a bit of aged characteristic. The finish leaves me wanting more. Lovely rich wine with good aged characteristic. Yum!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened at room temp and served. From the glass there were aromas of cherries and tobacco. On the palate, there was cedar on the back end. Not a fruit forward as other Saint Julien wines I am fond of, but the wine still drank quite well with our food as well as on its own. Peak to slightly past peak? EG WineArchitect
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
beau nez de cassis, cèdre, pointe de tabac. En bouche, fruits noirs compotés, les tannins sont très intégrés, encore du cèdre, très soyeux. belle longueur sur aromes tertiaires sous bois, Xmas pudding. encore une belle fraicheur mais manque un peu d'ampleur pour en faire une bouteille magique. trop tard ? pas de signe de fatigue sur la robe pourtant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Alas, this wine has seen better days! The color is a faded ruby with a hint of darkness. The nose is of "band-aid" with a touch of fruit of Saint-Julien. The wine is very food friendly, but should be consumed soon. EG #WineArchitect
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Dark garnet with a clear rim. Moderately floral nose, with some cedar and leather. Full-flavored mid-palate and finish that grew longer as the the evening went on. Tannins were well-integrated, and the wine was mature, ready, and elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
My last bottle, badly stored for years in a succession of London flats. Fully ready, quite mild & mellow, not typically St Julien, more Burgundian in feel. Reasonable length and persistence; just as good on the second night as on the first. Very rewarding for a wine which has been treated so disrespectfully .
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Smoky, earthy notes. Dark fruit. A lot of palate presence but feels a bit unbalanced with a few harsh edges. Will wait a few years before opening the next one. 90-91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This bottle was not kept properly, yet it lives up to the expectation. Very nice brick like color with fresh fruit scent. A bit of oak, coffee on the beginning followed by a nice layer of mentol. Then comes the juicy pear and blackberry. Finish is medium in length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Rather shy nose at first. Developed notes of red berries, cherries and red currants, rose petals, baking spice, cigar box, slight barnyard and coffee. Medium bodied and cool palate with good tannic grip and mid-intense strawberry fruit. Leather and pencil shavings. Mid-length. Left a load of sediment. Needed some time to open up. Solid middle-aged Medoc, but that's about it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
HKCC NY Lunch. Swift decant. 750 ml. Tasted vertical against 98 in same format. App: lush and deep dark blood red. Nose: cassis, slight cedar. Taste: very full and velvety, absolutely ready for consumption! Accumulate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
bricking and clearly some signs of age, with fruits that are muted at first and really almost austere initially with time the wine opened and rounded out...not especially rich, but much more pleasant.....decent aged claret is emerging
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
slight bricking at the edge. Nose of dark berries and "dry" dark chocolate. Decent mouth feel but a bit hollow at the middle. Decanted for about an hour or two and initial nose off the pop had a tinge of earthiness. The decant left the earthiness and replaced it with tobacco. Good juice - may benefit slightly from more time, but I think it's hit its stride.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Wine Cellar - Bordeaux Left Bank (Wine Cellar): (Tasted Blind): A medium ruby red corer with a noted orange rim suggests some development. The bouquet is quite earthy with feral qualities and I felt a little Bretty - but not too badly affected. With dried-out fruit on the palate, the wine has that earthy, cedarwood classicism, and the acid is relatively excitable. However, the Brett doesn't transmogrify into a bitter tail and, as such, seems to sit nicely with the wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Ruby colored with hints of bricking, this tobacco laden wine also offers coffee, smoke, cassis, dark berries and spice scents. Soft, elegant, approachable and round, this mature Branaire Ducru ends with soft textured dark berries and mocha flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
TN: Selbach, Cotat, Belliviere, Breton, Brainaire, Usseglio, de Malle: I wish I had bought more of this back in the day. The cork was popped about 6 hours in advance and the wine just decanted prior to serving. Ruby in color with some purple hues. The nose was great. Funk, cassis, cherries, spice and leather. Really deep. On the palate, this is complex. Not mind boggling, but intellectually stimulating as well as delicious. Went great with the food but sipped well on its own. Layers of cassis, earth and spice. Long finish. Its an old cliche, but this is why you cellar wine.
Evolved color. Classical excellent Grand Cru Bordeaux. This wine is evolving favorably since last year - now very nicely integrated with good length. At maturity.
Robe évoluée. Excellent Grand Cru classique de Bordeaux. Ce vin évolue favorablement depuis l'an dernier - à présent très belle intégration avec une bonne longueur. A maturité.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Quite full colour. A little earthy nose, but a little backward. Not overtly tannic, the tannins not completely ripe (for a 1996?). I decanted it, but I wonder that was a very good idea (not that it wasn't, but I doubt how this wine would hold when poored out of the bottle). A puzzling, therefore not convincing wine. But still very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This was decanted at the table and not sure it ever really opened up or strutted its stuff. I'm also not sure how much stuff it has to strut. This is a fairly reserved wine and not that fruit laden. I am not sure that there is enough fruit here to make this more interesting later as tertiary flavors emerge. I would probably drink em if you have them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
This wine has entered its mature drinking window and a medium to dark ruby color. I do not get orange. THe nose is older Bdx w/ cedar and some forest floor. Decanted and left in the cellar for an hour before dinner. THe nose did not become effusive and remained fairly classic and restrained. Ripe but not rich fruit and a delightful pairing w/ grilled sirloins. thres a lot of sentiment
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The color suggest orange at the rim. The nose is that of adolescent if not mature Bordeaux. I got leather, orange peel, spice and forest floor. The palate is, again, suggesting maturity with that wonderful tension between fruit and earth that only Bordeaux can deliver. The fruit carries through the mid-palate and finish on this wine but the tannins dry on the finish. I am happy that I opened this bottle now. To wait might risk missing the rally of fruit that is still present. I don't think one should rush to open this but it will b be fun to drink from here over the next several years. A very nice Claret!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted in double-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Deep garnet in color, this wine shows a moderately intense, pleasant bouquet of ripe plums, mushrooms and assorted herbs. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity and big (yet very approachable) tannins. The flavors mirror the nose and the medium-length finish is relatively smooth. Drink now-12/20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Bordeaux 1996 @ my place (Netherlands): Restrained nose of iron, meat juice, dried currants, white pepper and cherries. Austere and rustic palate, plenty of acidity, mint. ceder and cigars. Adequate length. 17/20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Beautiful, gentle nose. Front of palette dominated by an unpleasant acidity. Finish is long and gorgeous. Overall this is a classic elegant Bordeaux, built around pencil lead and gentle pepper notes, but marred by problem acidity. Not likely to improve with further age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
4/27/2024 - the player Likes this wine: 94 Points
Such great value for money I would stock up on this mature St Julien. Decanted and drank over 2 hours. Dark ruby red color with some density to the body. Nose typical of 96 left bank, mature aromas of leather, pencil lead, perfumed cassis, black currants and hints of blackberries given the richness of the dark fruit. On the palate very delineated, well structured, some gaminess to it reminiscent of Chateau Margaux 96, yes I do mean Margaux! Beautifully crafted, complex structure, some sweetness to the tannins, velvety finish, decent length and expansive. This is hitting way above its weight.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2024 - steveiiiiii Does not like this wine:
So much Brett its hard to to find anything else. Not putting it as flawed since others might like this style but I don't. Fourth bottle from same case and the Brett takes over more and more.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/29/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux night: Both Branaires showed similarly and punched well above their weight. Old-school in a good way with a little brett and rusticity that benefited rather than detracted from the wine, energetic dark red fruit for its age. In a great spot.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/10/2024 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious fully mature left bank St Julien. Deep crimson red color, cork half soaked. Easily beat a 2000 Beychevelle drunk alongside. Nose of cassis, pepper, dark red currants, some pencil lead. Medium bodied on the palate, hedonistic, slightly austere but quite pleasurable finishes with decent length and complexity with tannins well resolved but subtly persistent.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/2/2024 - B Paul wrote:
Double decanted. Classic aged Bordeaux nose. Stony cherry notes mixed in with leather, etc. In a good spot. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/28/2023 - Marc C Likes this wine: 92 Points
Le nez est superbe : fruit, graphite, cuir, léger sous-bois, on ne s'en lasse pas !
Bouche dynamique, précise avec une jolie matière qui enrobe l'ensemble. Superbe équilibre, très classe, un verre en chasse l'autre !
A nouveau une belle rencontre avec Branaire 96. Il possède tout ce qu'on attend d'un bordeaux à maturité !
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2023 - englishman's claret wrote: 86 Points
The 1996 Branaire shows black and red cherry notes which offer some appeal even if the whole package comes across as rather anemic. There’s some brett-derived aroma alongside in the form of barnyard; this isn’t too overwhelming but you do find yourself asking what else is there. Drying tannins and a shortish finish don’t bode particularly well for the future. It’s interesting to think about where Branaire-Ducru was in the hierarchy of St Julien in 1996 as compared to where they are now - the estate has progressed in leaps and bounds.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/27/2023 - steveiiiiii Likes this wine: 89 Points
In great balance but falls a little short on mid palate, for me the brett interferce too much with everything else.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/12/2023 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Caronne Ste Gemme and Branaire Ducru (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Blackcurrant tends to Cassis, earthy, leather, a little Autumn leaves, cedar, very slight mushrooms and umami. Juicy tends to medium plus intensity acidity, wild black fruits vie for attention with quite coarsely grainy tannins, a little fruit sweet core sits' beneath this, finishes with leather, earth and umami notes. Nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2023 - ackerstube Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow. Big positive surprise.
Cork almost not soaked.
Colour: lighter red , rim starting to turn orange
Smell: right after opening, tertiary aromas dominate in particular roasted coffee. After an hour fruit, especially cassis is showing up. Graphite, green pepper.
Taste: medium bodied, elegant good balance, nice acidity, dry, medium long finish. Fresh. Red and dark fruits . After an hour emerge menthol and raspberry ( I never tasted it that distinctly in any wine), liquorice .
Perfect now. Enjoy over the next 10 years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2023 - Vinumming & Ahhing Likes this wine: 93 Points
Branaire Ducru Vertical (The Market Brasserie at the Intercontinental at the O2, London): 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.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2022 - merlotsmile Likes this wine: 95 Points
Vinminnen 12 BYOB
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/27/2022 - steveiiiiii Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pretty tight and defensive before decanting, a lot of barn funk and a little metallic that decreased over time with air. The high acidity with a sour cherry characteristic dominates the palate. Long finish with leather and forest floor. My guess is that this could run for at least 5-10 more years.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/4/2022 - tbabes wrote: 94 Points
Decanted an hour before dinner; he fill was base neck and the cork was sound. Deep garnet core with a touch of bricking. Complex and classic bouquet, with notes of bramble, currants, cigar box, and forest floors; hints of crushed stones. Medium bodied, balanced, fresh; silky texture, good concentration, excellent delineation and focus on the long and savory finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/5/2021 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - Collantes and Branaire Ducru (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Smells 'rounder' than the 95, a sense of balance and ripeness; black cherry and plum, sweet and five spice, cream, leather, freshly tilled earth, a little more alcohol prickle and, with time, Autumn leaves and mushrooms...lovely nose. In the mouth it's juicy, savoury, earthy and meaty with wild cherry and plums, tannins are grainy and drying but support rather than dominate. Long. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/7/2021 - tbabes wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted two hours before dinner. Deep to medium garnet, with just a hint of bricking. Notes of cigar box, roasted fennel, dried black fruits and earth. Medium bodied, silky texture, good depth and balance; long and focused finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/6/2021 - NickNYC wrote:
Bottle open 2 hours before consuming and consumed over an hour or so. I really liked the nose, complex, typical St Julien, elegant, noble wood, tertiary notes, black fruit. The palate is elegant, fresh, a bit thin for my liking. lean and long. as the time went by, the acidity picked up. good wine but not really hedonistic.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/29/2021 - Lype Likes this wine:
Attractively open nose with earthy cedar scents, the palate is consistent with the bouquet with rich and a bit sweet cedar and cassis flauvors, mouldy forest floor, moist leather, hints of licorice and austere characteristics often found in left banks. Fruit is nicely there complemented by good acidity but the tannins are accentuated making this somewhat unbalanced and maybe even disjointed. More years in the cellar does not necessarily fix this. Nevertheless I found this enjoyable but to some this maybe challenging.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/24/2021 - PMUST Likes this wine: 82 Points
Still tannic, heady, and long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/20/2019 - chatters Likes this wine:
From Coravin. Biscuit, cream, leather, black cherry over plum and blackcurrant, sweet spice, cigar box, fresh tobacco leaf, graphite. Juicy, fleshy, fruity in a very good spot, talc textured tannins but wonderfully balanced, still has time but lovely.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/4/2019 - wineguru57@yahoo.com.au wrote: 93 Points
really drinking beautifully now. Hint baby poo on nose. Tannins are divine, soft and ripe, but persistent. Structurally is outstanding. long complex, cassis, black olive, sandalwood, and rounded even, seamless palate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/7/2019 - ONEFIVE Likes this wine:
PnP
Nose is mostly savory. Lots of spice, and a light smokiness. Beef jerky and a touch of tobacco.
Well integrated in the mouth. Again light fruit, moderate acid, moderate tannin, medium bodied.
All in all this is fine. Might be past it’s prime or in a dumb phase. Drink now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/16/2019 - Gen NY Does not like this wine: 80 Points
Bottle was is good shape and the cork came out without any trouble. Color was a nice light to medium garnet. Nose was earthy, funky with a bit of bacon but no fruit. After an hour in the decanter i tasted it. It was smooth but not good. It was not flawed, just aging like Kathleen Turner. Basically a mouthful of moss, asparagus with a little meat/bacon. My wife liked it enough to have a glass, I opted for a single malt.
Next day it was even worse - poured out.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/26/2018 - chatters wrote:
Coravin fun - new arrivals (My place, Kent Street): From Coravin. Smells dense with dark, brooding fruit, sweet spice, leather, cigar box, polished oak, a little cream and caramel. Juicy, fleshy but still quite dense dark fruit, the tannins are silky but drying, fruit caries and becomes more leathery, woody and dried out on the finish. With time a fair amount of farmyard on the nose as well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2018 - forceberry wrote: 91 Points
13% alcohol.
Moderately translucent dark ruby color with a little bit of developed brick-red hue and a very pale red rim. The nose feels somewhat restrained and, at first, somewhat metallic, but opens up to reveal dark-toned notes of ripe blackcurrants and other dark fruits, some leathery tones, a little bit of animal roughness, hints of leafy tones and a touch of pipe tobacco. Overall a very classic nose. The wine feels quite full-bodied, pretty dense and rather firm on the palate with savory yet still surprisingly youthful and pretty intense flavors of ripe blackcurrants, some tobacco, a little bit of peppery spice, hints of leather and a touch of mushroomy sous-bois. Overall the wine is structured and pretty tightly-knit with high acidity and firm, moderately grippy tannins. The finish is long and complex with somewhat developed flavors of wizened dark cherries, some fresh blackcurrants, a little bit of leather, hints of plums and prunes and a touch of tobacco,
A very nice and - for a +20 yo claret - still surprisingly youthful and stern St. Julien. Only the color seems to betray the age of the wine, as the nose feels very little developed for a wine this old and the palate even less so. At first the wine didn't seem that pleasant due to the metallic element in the nose, but fortunately the wine blew that aroma off pretty quickly. Overall the wine is pretty solid effort, although still surprisingly stern, even - I daresay - somewhat inapproachable now. Now the wine is good like a claret should be, but I have a hunch that the wine is still some way away from its plateau of maturity and it will start showing better in a decade or so. Obviously a wine built for the long run. Worth the money at 50€.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2017 - unrelenting Likes this wine: 92 Points
Starting its slow devolution -- still some fruit. Devoid of finish. worth $60 in 2011 though.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/8/2017 - Zweder wrote: 91 Points
Monthly Tasting Group HWS #117; Bordeaux St. Julien except Léoville wines.... (By VD and @ VD): In the bouquet mainly dark berries, some red berries as well, earth, cedar and blood. On the palate the first impression is that the wine is not a 100% fresh, but that disappears after a while. Then there are dark and red berries and cherries, bell pepper, earth, a bit rustic and earthy. The tannin is slightly edgy. Overall a beautiful wine which is ready now and will drink lovely over the next 2 - 3+ years.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2017 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
Opened by Mark. Decanted back into the bottle 3hoirs before drinking. Moderate sediment. Garnet color. Meaty nose. Notes of cocoa, licorice, iron and black fruit. Integrated tannins. Round finish with a slightly bitter edge. 91 points.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/26/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Opened and decanted and drank about 1.5 hours later. Was next to an '05 Pontet Canet and a '94 La Mouline (aka we weren't drinking badly this night). Still almost on the young side, lots of leather and pencil shavings and barnyard. I liked it a lot although I think it might have been my third of those three. Much more open than the PC which was prob more of a baby killing, but I saw some great potential there.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/22/2015 - Rezy13 wrote:
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+: Garnet core, some age with the bricking; very Bordeaux on the nose, sweaty, stinky, wet earth, green pepper, Bandaid, leather; softened tannin, sweet leather, cherry, still good fruit; starting to drink well.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/3/2015 - Loekkeboe Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very fine mature bordeaux with leadpencil shavings, cassis and a bit of earth. Good tannic bite - but very drinkable.
Must have been kept in good cool storage - appeared quite young (for its age).
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/11/2015 - stayhappy21 wrote: 95 Points
Opened a bottle to share with my soul mate over a dinner at Taste Paradise, ION Orchard tonight.
Colour was dark brown with red hues on the edge. On the nose the wine is charming with aromas of raspberries, cassis and liquorice.
On the palate the wine is soft, elegant, feminine and gets more complex over the course of the dinner. Some leathery and oaky notes, and the presence of fruits and acidity keeps the wine in good shape and structure. After an hour in the decanter the wine appears to be more approachable and enjoyable.
The balance of all the key elements makes this wine a memorable one. This is one of the reasons why St Julien remains one of my favourite appellations in Bordeaux.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/30/2015 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Double decanted for 1.5hrs. Needs a bit of decanting for sure. Careful with sediment too.
Pretty much in line with our encounter 3 years ago albeit a bit more elegant but with less fruit. Bottle variation or evolution? Well secondary, leather, forest floor. The fruit seemed to be drying out which is the only concern we had for it but a very enjoyable wine nonetheless. 90-91 drink now.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/27/2015 - davergny Likes this wine: 92 Points
Last bottle. Wonderful Bdx, in it's prime. Consistent with other bottles, silky, sweet, and long. Classy wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2014 - Kris Bouhuijzen Likes this wine: 91 Points
2 hour decant. Cigar box, cedar and cassis notes on the nose. Very fruit forward on the palate, with a beautiful rounded texture. Good length finish, very elegant and nicely made St. Julien.
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
11/2/2014 - KristianT Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great Bordeaux! Still in early stages of its plateau. Still lots of fruit combined with a good tannic structure that should keep it for years. Beautiful and elegant. Notes of cedar and cigar box combined with black fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/17/2014 - Jeff Leve wrote: 91 Points
Tobacco, cigar box, cassis, mocha and cedar wood scents lead to a mature, soft, round wine with a fresh, sweet cassis and earthy finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/28/2014 - Yagil wrote: 90 Points
mature Bordeaux wine evening (The Traklin Wine-Bistro): dark red
classic tertiary aromas of sweet cherry fruit, sweet tobacco with hints of leather & tar.
med bodied, soft tannins, powerful, lush, silky & long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2014 - KristianT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Another great bottle of mature Médoc. Tasted next to Lafon Rochet in same vintage. Both were perfectly mature and shows all you want from a classic Bordeaux.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/22/2014 - davergny Likes this wine: 92 Points
Following my own advice and drinking these. Another great bottle, same notes as the last one.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2013 - spillwine wrote:
Magnifiques 2 dernières bouteilles. A boire cependant sans trop attendre. Je vais me concentrer sur le 2000 à partir de demain.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/8/2013 - spillwine wrote: 90 Points
Très bien au départ, le vin s'oxyde ensuite rapidement.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2013 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 89 Points
The wine had a medium garnet color. The nose was a bit more closed than my previous bottle of recent consumption. It actually exhibited more masculine Bordeaux notes showing more earth than floral. I'll chalk it up to bottle variation. Alas, there are more! EG WineArchitect, #Chateau Branaire
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/24/2013 - Julian Marshall wrote: 89 Points
Aromas of blackberry, cigar box and menthol. In the mouth, there are good notes of the blackberries, then a second wave of red cherries, but the sensations are smothered still by some rather bitter tannins.
Not bad, but I don't think there is enough fruit to outlast the grip of the tannins, which will eventually subside. In the context of the vintage, I found this rather disappointing - if you don't believe me, try a Gruaud 96 at the same price or close...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2013 - davergny wrote: 92 Points
Classic! Sweet cherry fruit, sweet tobacco, hints of leather & tar. Not big, powerful or deep, but very lush, silky & long. Tannins have melted away. This is in it's prime. Drink up!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/23/2013 - spillwine wrote: 88 Points
Pas la meilleure bouteille, très rond, presque trop, jut de fruit simple.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/17/2013 - spillwine wrote: 91 Points
idem
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/17/2013 - spillwine wrote: 93 Points
Superbe
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2013 - Vini Ciclismo Likes this wine: 89 Points
half - Deep rich dark fruits.
[mr underhill]
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/23/2013 - emzee.mc wrote: 90 Points
The wine pours a rusty purplish color. There are medium legs that cling onto the glass. What a captivating nose! The wine smells of chocolate, prunes, a lot of fruit (classic Saint Julien), truffles, tobacco and aged leather. Restrained but great concentration for sure despite the age. Great layering on the palate with velvety structures. Much fruit and acidity come to the fore before drying smokiness round things out. Tannins are definitely there though already integrated. Drinking very well now.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2013 - grossie wrote: 92 Points
Can't imagine that this will improve more, but it's in a great place right now. A bit rust colored. Sweet cedar nose with terrific floral qualities too. Great sweet luscious fruit with a bit of aged characteristic. The finish leaves me wanting more. Lovely rich wine with good aged characteristic. Yum!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
2/2/2013 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 89 Points
Opened at room temp and served. From the glass there were aromas of cherries and tobacco. On the palate, there was cedar on the back end. Not a fruit forward as other Saint Julien wines I am fond of, but the wine still drank quite well with our food as well as on its own. Peak to slightly past peak? EG WineArchitect
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/15/2012 - zarped wrote: 89 Points
beau nez de cassis, cèdre, pointe de tabac. En bouche, fruits noirs compotés, les tannins sont très intégrés, encore du cèdre, très soyeux. belle longueur sur aromes tertiaires sous bois, Xmas pudding. encore une belle fraicheur mais manque un peu d'ampleur pour en faire une bouteille magique. trop tard ? pas de signe de fatigue sur la robe pourtant
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/1/2012 - WineArchitect Likes this wine: 87 Points
Alas, this wine has seen better days! The color is a faded ruby with a hint of darkness. The nose is of "band-aid" with a touch of fruit of Saint-Julien. The wine is very food friendly, but should be consumed soon. EG #WineArchitect
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/3/2012 - Thracian Alvarinho wrote: 90 Points
This is very elegant. More Margaux than St. Julien. At its peak now!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/29/2012 - cadel wrote: 91 Points
Chocolade, animaal, bananenschil, rood fruit, nog lichte tanninestructuur. Op een mooi punt in zijn leven aangekomen
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2012 - Thellie wrote:
Dark garnet with a clear rim. Moderately floral nose, with some cedar and leather. Full-flavored mid-palate and finish that grew longer as the the evening went on. Tannins were well-integrated, and the wine was mature, ready, and elegant.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/22/2012 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 86 Points
Passable. Tastes like a great Manischewitz!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/20/2012 - Remony wrote: 90 Points
My last bottle, badly stored for years in a succession of London flats. Fully ready, quite mild & mellow, not typically St Julien, more Burgundian in feel. Reasonable length and persistence; just as good on the second night as on the first. Very rewarding for a wine which has been treated so disrespectfully .
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2012 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Smoky, earthy notes. Dark fruit. A lot of palate presence but feels a bit unbalanced with a few harsh edges. Will wait a few years before opening the next one. 90-91
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/8/2012 - dexterng wrote: 90 Points
This bottle was not kept properly, yet it lives up to the expectation. Very nice brick like color with fresh fruit scent. A bit of oak, coffee on the beginning followed by a nice layer of mentol. Then comes the juicy pear and blackberry. Finish is medium in length.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/25/2012 - avp wrote:
Rather shy nose at first. Developed notes of red berries, cherries and red currants, rose petals, baking spice, cigar box, slight barnyard and coffee.
Medium bodied and cool palate with good tannic grip and mid-intense strawberry fruit. Leather and pencil shavings. Mid-length.
Left a load of sediment. Needed some time to open up. Solid middle-aged Medoc, but that's about it.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/25/2012 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 89 Points
Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs - Double Blind- Guests Christine Bruce & John Hilliard; 1/24/2012-1/25/2012 (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL): - Garnet color with medium forming legs and aromas of blackberry, black currant, violet, eucalyptus and menthol. It's somewhat balanced and has flavours of blackberry and black currant with a medium body. Smooth texture with a medium finish - Alvaro's wine.(I also have a bottle, I believe bought at WOLFE'S at his inventory clearing make a bid sale.)
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/31/2011 - Revenga wrote: 92 Points
HKCC NY Lunch. Swift decant. 750 ml. Tasted vertical against 98 in same format. App: lush and deep dark blood red. Nose: cassis, slight cedar. Taste: very full and velvety, absolutely ready for consumption! Accumulate.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/18/2011 - Mr T wrote:
bricking and clearly some signs of age, with fruits that are muted at first and really almost austere initially
with time the wine opened and rounded out...not especially rich, but much more pleasant.....decent aged claret is emerging
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/8/2011 - Whinojb wrote: 91 Points
slight bricking at the edge. Nose of dark berries and "dry" dark chocolate. Decent mouth feel but a bit hollow at the middle. Decanted for about an hour or two and initial nose off the pop had a tinge of earthiness. The decant left the earthiness and replaced it with tobacco. Good juice - may benefit slightly from more time, but I think it's hit its stride.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/18/2010 - CamWheeler wrote: 91 Points
Generous nose of red and black berries, cedar and tobacco. Palate is not as generous, but is still quite enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/6/2010 - TiggerK wrote: 92 Points
Very enjoyable bottle. Fairly mature and drinking well now, but will benefit from even more time I think.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/4/2010 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 88 Points
Wine Cellar - Bordeaux Left Bank (Wine Cellar): (Tasted Blind): A medium ruby red corer with a noted orange rim suggests some development. The bouquet is quite earthy with feral qualities and I felt a little Bretty - but not too badly affected. With dried-out fruit on the palate, the wine has that earthy, cedarwood classicism, and the acid is relatively excitable. However, the Brett doesn't transmogrify into a bitter tail and, as such, seems to sit nicely with the wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
6/23/2010 - Jeff Leve wrote: 92 Points
Ruby colored with hints of bricking, this tobacco laden wine also offers coffee, smoke, cassis, dark berries and spice scents. Soft, elegant, approachable and round, this mature Branaire Ducru ends with soft textured dark berries and mocha flavors.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2010 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 92 Points
TN: Selbach, Cotat, Belliviere, Breton, Brainaire, Usseglio, de Malle: I wish I had bought more of this back in the day. The cork was popped about 6 hours in advance and the wine just decanted prior to serving. Ruby in color with some purple hues. The nose was great. Funk, cassis, cherries, spice and leather. Really deep. On the palate, this is complex. Not mind boggling, but intellectually stimulating as well as delicious. Went great with the food but sipped well on its own. Layers of cassis, earth and spice. Long finish. Its an old cliche, but this is why you cellar wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
2/25/2010 - NomadicEntrepreneur wrote: 93 Points
typically French Bord.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/4/2010 - wahoff wrote: 91 Points
Evolved color. Classical excellent Grand Cru Bordeaux. This wine is evolving favorably since last year - now very nicely integrated with good length. At maturity.
Robe évoluée. Excellent Grand Cru classique de Bordeaux. Ce vin évolue favorablement depuis l'an dernier - à présent très belle intégration avec une bonne longueur. A maturité.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/11/2009 - MauriceE wrote: 89 Points
Quite full colour. A little earthy nose, but a little backward. Not overtly tannic, the tannins not completely ripe (for a 1996?). I decanted it, but I wonder that was a very good idea (not that it wasn't, but I doubt how this wine would hold when poored out of the bottle). A puzzling, therefore not convincing wine. But still very good.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/25/2009 - Mr T wrote:
This was decanted at the table and not sure it ever really opened up or strutted its stuff. I'm also not sure how much stuff it has to strut. This is a fairly reserved wine and not that fruit laden. I am not sure that there is enough fruit here to make this more interesting later as tertiary flavors emerge. I would probably drink em if you have them.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/18/2009 - Wineosseur wrote: 89 Points
Somewhat slow to open up. Initially showed a smokiness that disipated toward muted red fruits. Fairly well balanced and enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/8/2008 - Caskar wrote: 91 Points
Absolutely positive! Great aromas, great colour and a strong finish. Thoroughly enjoyable.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/1/2008 - Mr T wrote:
This wine has entered its mature drinking window and a medium to dark ruby color. I do not get orange. THe nose is older Bdx w/ cedar and some forest floor. Decanted and left in the cellar for an hour before dinner. THe nose did not become effusive and remained fairly classic and restrained. Ripe but not rich fruit and a delightful pairing w/ grilled sirloins. thres a lot of sentiment
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/22/2008 - Roberto_1 wrote: 90 Points
The color suggest orange at the rim. The nose is that of adolescent if not mature Bordeaux. I got leather, orange peel, spice and forest floor. The palate is, again, suggesting maturity with that wonderful tension between fruit and earth that only Bordeaux can deliver. The fruit carries through the mid-palate and finish on this wine but the tannins dry on the finish. I am happy that I opened this bottle now. To wait might risk missing the rally of fruit that is still present. I don't think one should rush to open this but it will b be fun to drink from here over the next several years. A very nice Claret!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
4/4/2008 - La Cave d'Argent wrote: 90 Points
Tasted in double-blind fashion at Vintage Wines, Ltd. Deep garnet in color, this wine shows a moderately intense, pleasant bouquet of ripe plums, mushrooms and assorted herbs. Full-bodied on the palate, with medium acidity and big (yet very approachable) tannins. The flavors mirror the nose and the medium-length finish is relatively smooth. Drink now-12/20.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2008 - Miceri wrote:
Probably too old; powerful nose of berries, but quickly fading away; taste as if acidity has taken over
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/25/2007 - EGunderson wrote: 88 Points
Decanted 3 hours. Earthy nose, very little on the finish. Some fruit, mostly earthy taste.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2007 - maxdean wrote: 89 Points
the bouquet is heady perfume rich and floral but high acids and tannins leathery and pungent only slightly better after a an hour
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/11/2007 - jkoenen wrote: 89 Points
Bordeaux 1996 @ my place (Netherlands): Restrained nose of iron, meat juice, dried currants, white pepper and cherries. Austere and rustic palate, plenty of acidity, mint. ceder and cigars. Adequate length. 17/20
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/25/2007 - MRichman wrote:
Branaire Ducru in NYC (Il Corso): Young, strong with lots of dark structure. Beefy. Needs a little more time, but close. Will be very nice.
B++
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/13/2007 - pea wrote: 90 Points
It has developed a lot since last time I tasted it. Classic aromas and tannins that are beginning to soften. Very nice.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/12/2006 - BailliSacks wrote: 87 Points
Beautiful, gentle nose. Front of palette dominated by an unpleasant acidity. Finish is long and gorgeous. Overall this is a classic elegant Bordeaux, built around pencil lead and gentle pepper notes, but marred by problem acidity. Not likely to improve with further age.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
1/3/2006 - wahoff wrote: 90 Points
Evolved color. Classical excellent Grand Cru Bordeaux, however lacking excitment. At maturity.
Robe évoluée. Excellent - classique Grand Cru de Bordeaux. Le "petit plus" manque pour en faire un vin réellement excitant. A maturité.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/1/2004 - duchamp wrote: 89 Points
Tobacco and cedar but not much fruit and what was there was very crystallized, a little diluted on the mid-palate and very acetic
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/9/2001 - Zweder wrote: 90 Points
Absolutely a very beautiful and harmonious wine.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/1999 - pea wrote: 87 Points
Dark purple. Dark fruit on the nose. Tannic on the palate but with considerable fruit.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/13/1998 - Zweder wrote: 89 Points
Tempting harmonious wine with good fruit and oak.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment