Mike Evans

9.2

I think the Branaire style works well in a vintage like 2003 — 12 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

What a delicious 16 year old Bordeaux from Saint Julien.

Dark ruby in color with a wide brick rim.

Full-bodied with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with nice complexity.

Showing black fruits with cedar, licorice, coffee, light earth, herbs, spices, tobacco leaf and dark chocolates.

Elegant and easy drinking once it opens up. Needs 3 hours.

This second wine is drinking very nicely now, although not from a great vintage.

Good by itself as a sipping wine. Would also pair nicely with game meats or lamb dishes.

13% alcohol by volume.

92 points

$80. — 4 months ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Splendid 2nd Brand of a 4th Growth Chateau Branaire-Duceu from the left bank of Bordeaux.
All vines from this vinyard are +35 years old in average and entirely hand-harvested. It showcases a wine enough refinement and balance. Medley of red fruit and a bit earthly. This wine screams food pairing. Tannins are packed and solid, quite complex. Long and lingering finish. — 21 days ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.3

1998 vintage. Cork a little dry near the bottom so called out the Durand for a rescue. Less meniscus than expected. Dusty, earthy nose. Medium body. Heaps of allspice/sandalwood, prunes and baking chocolate hovering about in the medicinal/oily nose and (mostly) in the flavor profile. Ridiculously reminiscent of an aged (‘80’s-‘90’s) Branaire-Ducru St. Julien BDX. So much so that, if blind tasting, that is the guess. This is gliding along. No highs or lows to navigate currently. Not a showstopper by any means but one helluva ringer in a blind tasting. Some bretty influences here and there but nothing warranting a red card/dq. Picked up slightly more body and a noticeable cinnamon/clove note on the finish after being open for an hour. Also...some muddiness along with a sudden frontal-palate richness (at the 1.5 hours open mark) reminiscent of Petit Verdot involvement/influence. WTF?!?! Bring it! 4.21.24. — 9 months ago

Matthew Robinson

9.4

Just beautiful old, left bank BDX... But drink now — a month ago

Stefan Dolhain

8.9

2019 vintage. Simple, good value. — 4 months ago

Yuriy Roman

9.8

Dinner at Christophe Coperet's house. He opened some delicious bottles:
Champagne Tarlant - la matinale - 2003
Sauternes - Château Yquem - 1981 (this was ridiculously good)
St Julien - Château Branaire Ducru - 2008
St Julien - Château Talbot - 1998
St Julien - Château Beychevelle - 1988
Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru "La Combe d'Orveau" - Domaine Henri Perrot Minot - 1998 (my favorite of the list)
Pouilly Fuisse - Domaine Corsin - 1998. — 9 years ago