The 2014 Branaire-Ducru is a Bordeaux Blend from the St. Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, produced by Branaire-Ducru, is bottled with a cork closure and has an alcohol content of 13.0%.
The wine has received considerable praise from professional reviewers, indicating its high quality and potential for aging. Wine Enthusiast awarded it an impressive score of 94, describing it as "spicy, rich and full of ripe fruit," with a structure that combines density and elegance. The reviewer noted that the wine's blackberry fruit dominates its tannins, creating a balance of concentration and fine fruit, and suggested it would be best enjoyed from 2022.
James Suckling gave the wine a score of 93, highlighting its subtlety and sophistication. He described it as a "slightly shy mid-weight wine" that rewards patience, recommending it be consumed starting in 2021.
Wine Spectator also rated the wine at 93, praising its "very pure and expressive" character with "lovely violet and cassis aromas and flavors." The wine features light anise and graphite hints and maintains a fresh feel through the finish, with a minerality that engages with the fruit. The publication suggested the optimal drinking window to be from 2019 to 2028.
Decanter awarded the wine a score of 92, noting its "herbal nose, violets, blackcurrants, chocolate, and exotic sweet spices." The wine is described as confident, fruit-forward, and balanced, with sleek tannins and well-defined flavors that drive from start to finish. The reviewer mentioned that it is just beginning its optimal drinking period.
Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com also scored it 92, describing aromas of peppery black currants, mocha, cedar, tobacco leaf, and herbs. He found the wine to be medium-bodied, fresh, zesty, and spicy, with a crisp and refined finish, recommending it be enjoyed from 2022 to 2040.
The Wine Independent rated the wine 93, highlighting its medium to deep garnet color and fragrant scents of kirsch, candied violets, and fallen leaves. The wine features a medium-bodied palate with great tension and fine-grained tannins, finishing with a mineral note.
Finally, Vinous scored the wine 91, noting its "quieter" bouquet that becomes well-defined with mainly black tertiary fruit laced with tobacco. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and conveys a sense of drinkability, showing better now than six years earlier.
Overall, the 2014 Branaire-Ducru is a well-balanced, sophisticated Bordeaux Blend that has garnered high praise for its fruit-forward character, elegant structure, and potential for aging.