2005 Château Branaire-Ducru, St Julien, Bordeaux

66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot; 3.68 pH; 13.3% alcohol. The grapes were harvested between September 20 and October 10.Bright dark ruby-red with a pale rim. Blackcurrant, red cherry, minerals and sweet aromatic spices on the enticing, exotic nose. Then pure, clean and refined in the mouth, showing terrific sweetness to the flavours of blackcurrant, black cherry, mocha and wet stone. This sizable wine offers wonderful poise and precision thanks to vibrant but harmonious acidity. The finish is long and seamless, with a plush, tactile mouthfeel. This is an outstanding Branaire-Ducru and easily one of the best wines ever made at the estate.Ian D'Agata, Vinous.com.com (March 2014)

The 2005 Branaire-Ducru is a gorgeous, super-expressive wine that captures all of the natural radiance of the year. Black cherry, leather, spice, cedar, tobacco and scorched earth envelop the palate, framed by silky tannins that give this supple Saint-Julien so much charm. The 2005 is a very easy wine to drink and enjoy today, but it's got the stuffing to develop beautifully for years to come.Drink 2022 - 2040antonio_galloni, Vinous.com.com (April 2021)

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 ageing.Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com.com (May 2008)

60% new oakThe nose is just utterly delicious, smoky and seductive. This is why you don't drink St-Julien in a great vintage too young, it has suddenly started to sing and take on all these aromatics dimensions. It's displaying a floral, violet edge, with truffles and leather. The fruit is still there but it has started to be accompanied by an orchestra of other flavours. This is my favourite wine in the series, hands down. Showing so perfectly today. The tannins are still there but they are melted, and the whole thing has just come together.Drink 2018 - 2030jane_anson_mw, Decanter.com (December 2018)

The 2005 Branaire-Ducru is really stepping up through the gears and is definitely worth seeking out. Deep in colour, it has an exquisite definition on the nose: blackberry, cedar, wild mint and sous-bois. There is a vibrant energy to this 2005 that sets it apart. The palate is extremely well-balanced with crisp acidity. Tensile towards its pliant finish that has softened slightly in recent years. This vintage is perfect to drink now, though personally, I would afford it another three or four years in bottle.Drink 2025 - 2050Neil Martin, Vinous.com.com (November 2023)

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.Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 29/06/2015

Showing well, the Branaire-Ducru was dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (65%) with 28% Merlot and a bit of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Despite picking fairly early (20 September), the wine was silky and subtle and showed very well-managed tannins. Pronounced blackcurrant fruit with accents of cedar and smoke were apparent from the start and lingered enticingly on the finish.Drink 2021 - 2040Charles Curtis MW, Decanter.com (June 2021)