2008 Château Branaire-Ducru, St Julien, Bordeaux

Tasted blind. Sweet, succulent nose. Lots of freshness. Lots of vigour and focus though very much in the dry rather than sweet spectrum on the palate. Correct rather than fun.Drink 2020 - 2038jancis_robinson_mw MW, JancisRobinson.com (March 2018)

A little more rigid than some, this is not particularly generous but has fine layers of bilberry fruit, tannins and acidity. It's well put together and extremely classic - it could perhaps do with having a little more fun along the way.Drink 2018 - 2028jane_anson_mw, Decanter.com (January 2018)

Dark red with ruby tones. Musky aromas of currant, dark plum and chocolate, along with a riper hint of black raspberry. Quite dry and uncompromising, with very good intensity and clarity to the medicinal flavors of dark fruits, blueberry skin, minerals and leather. Finishes backward, even a bit disjointed, with edgy acidity and dusty tannins in need of time to harmonize. Rather atypically unforthcoming for a young Branaire, but built for an extended life in bottle.Stephen Tanzer, Vinous.com.com (July 2011)

The 2008 Branaire Ducru has a clean and fresh bouquet with mulberry, blackcurrant pastilles, and subtle hints of eucalyptus that are all detailed and focused if missing the complexity of more recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with thickset tannin, quite dense black fruit with a touch of cassis. I like the atypical density of this 2008, although I would like more panache and personality to shine through.There was no easing into the job and frankly I would not want it any other way on my first day. Wines tasted in the morning at an annual ten-year on Bordeaux tasting on one side of the Atlantic, written up on the flight over to New York with my mouth still coated in tannin and completed on the other side of the Atlantic...just a day in the life, so that readers get an idea how things are going to roll with the 2008 Bordeaux.Drink 2018 - 2035Neil Martin, Vinous.com.com (February 2018)

Opaque purple-ruby. Very rich nose offers sweet blueberry syrup and blackberry jam aromas, with a topnote of nutmeg and crystallized ginger. Also quite spicy on the palate, where it boasts great purity to its blackberry and plum flavors. Quite concentrated and long, though it seems almost light thanks to wonderfully harmonious acids. Finishes with still youthful but very polished tannins and a late kick of cracked black pepper and smoked bacon. Owner Patrick Maroteaux feels this is one of the five best Branaires of the last 25 years and he won't get any argument from me.Ian D'Agata, Vinous.com.com (May 2009)

A stunning success for the vintage, this enticing St.-Julien reveals notes of lead pencil shavings, sweet raspberries and black currants and a subtle touch of oak. Elegant, restrained yet authoritative and impressively intense, it is a medium to full-bodied, lightly tannic effort will be even better with 1-2 years of bottle age and will keep for 15-20 years.Robert M. Parker, Jr. - 02/05/2011

A stunning success for the vintage, this enticing St.-Julien reveals notes of lead pencil shavings, sweet raspberries and black currants and a subtle touch of oak. Elegant, restrained yet authoritative and impressively intense, it is a medium to full-bodied, lightly tannic effort will be even better with 1-2 years of bottle age and will keep for 15-20 years. (robert_parker- Wine Advocate- May 2011) Sweet black raspberry and blueberry fruit intermixed with hints of acacia flowers and crushed rocks always provide Branaire with a distinctive perfume. In the mouth, there is impressive purity, a powerful yet elegant style, noticeable but sweet tannin, and nicely integrated acidity. The wood component is not apparent given the density and richness of the fruit. The 2008 should come close to rivaling the 2005, 2003, and 2000 (robert_parker - Wine Advocate - Apr 09)