2009 Château Branaire-Ducru, St Julien, Bordeaux

Inky purple. Grapey, floral nose offers the full Branaire spectrum of sexy ripe black cherry, Oriental spice, dark chocolate and coconut aromas. Enters very bright, with rich, dense flavours of red cherry and pomegranate juice, then finishes impressively long and pure, with a lovely hint of fresh blackberry. The wine's lively acids give it great precision and extend its flavours on the aromatic aftertaste. 

The wine's youthfully aggressive tannins will greatly repay cellaring, and I expect this wine to age effortlessly for the next few decades. I recently had the amazing 1928 Branaire, and though I don't think this '09 will ever reach the heights of that wine, it may be pretty close.

Smudgy crimson. High toned. Lots of juice and attack with some freshness too. Just the job for claret lovers really.

Drink 2017 - 2030

A cedar perfume on the nose, with a good length of flavour and concentration on the palate. This is slightly more chunky than elegant, which means it has huge potential.

The 2009 Branaire-Ducru is another killer wine from this vintage that’s drinking spectacularly well at age 10. Based on 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it’s still ruby/purple color is followed by a huge nose of blackcurrants, tobacco leaf, cedar box, and even a hint of forest floor. Full-bodied, broad, expansive, and layered on the palate, it builds nicely with time in the glass, has sweet tannins, no hard edges, and a blockbuster finish. This incredible wine can be enjoyed any time over the coming 2-3 decades or more. Bravo!

Drink 2019 - 2044

The 2009 Branaire-Ducru has a medium to deep garnet colour and reveals compelling notions of warm cassis, liquorice, baked plums and hoisin with hints of sautéed herbs and pencil lead. Youthful and medium to full-bodied, it has a generous core of black fruits with a firm and grainy structure and bags of freshness, finishing long with great purity.

Drink 2020 - 2040

The 2009 Branaire Ducru has a somewhat conservative bouquet with cedar and graphite-scented black fruit, with touches of brown spice emerging with time. It never quite clicks into fifth gear. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly drier tannin than its peers, yet well-balanced and fresh, hints of sage and bay leaf infusing the black fruit with a delightful, vivacious, quintessential Saint-Julien finish. Excellent.

Drink 2021 - 2045

Haut couture becomes a wine! This dense purple wine has the tell-tale notes of flowers and pencil shavings, and its broad aromatics are intense and totally captivating. Powerful, rich, and full, but less tannic than the 2005 and more opulent, this is a dazzling Branaire to drink between 2017-2035.

Bright, deep ruby. Superripe, brooding aromas of black cherry, bitter chocolate and liquorice. Sweet, concentrated and fine-grained, with terrific depth to the plush cassis and coffee liqueur flavours. Serious dusty, fine tannins will not stand in the way of early approachability but this wine has the structure for a 20+-year life in bottle.