1994 Branaire Ducru
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 1994 Branaire-Ducru has a much lighter bouquet than the 2004 tasted alongside. Undergrowth-tinged red fruit mixes with sandalwood and tobacco. The palate is marked by some dry tannins, grainy in texture, and dried blood-infused red fruit leads to a slightly chewy finish. It's perfectly sound, a bit old school, but I can imagine this showing well with a simple meat dish. Fine, though, drink soon. Tasted at the château.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Robert Parker
More reviews and scores
One of the most stylish, complex, and remarkably delicious wines of the vintage, this charmer possesses a dark ruby/purple color, as well as an excellent, sweet nose of cassis, spice, and an intriguing floral component. Soft and savory, with pure, toasty, black fruit flavors, this luscious, low acid wine has managed to avoid the vintage's tough tannin. I'm not sure this wine has the potential to be outstanding, but it is very close. It is one of the vintage's more attractive values for a top classified growth. It should drink well for 12-16 years.
Shows good finesse for the vintage. Cedar and berry aromas and flavors, with fine tannins and a silky finish. Better in 1999. Wine Spectator, 31 Jan 1997.
One of the most stylish, complex, and remarkably delicious wines of the vintage, this charmer possesses a dark ruby/purple color, as well as an excellent, sweet nose of cassis, spice, and an intriguing floral component. Soft and savory, with pure, toasty, black fruit flavors, this luscious, low acid wine has managed to avoid the vintage's tough tannin. I'm not sure this wine has the potential to be outstanding, but it is very close. It is one of the vintage's more attractive values for a top classified growth. It should drink well for 12-16 years. Feb 1997, www.robertparker.com
About the producer
This Fourth Growth estate, just a stone’s throw from the wide expanse of the Gironde estuary, has been revitalised under the stewardship of former banker and businessman Patrick Maroteaux, who purchased the property in 1988.