The 2018 Branaire-Ducru is a Bordeaux Blend produced by Branaire-Ducru in the St. Julien sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, sealed with a cork closure, has an alcohol content of 14.5%. The blend consists of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot, and 4% Cabernet Franc.

James Suckling awarded it a high score of 97, describing it as having "very attractive aromas of currants, tile, and sandalwood with black and red currants." He noted its full-bodied nature with a "tight, dense center-palate," suggesting it might be "the greatest Branaire-Ducru ever made." He recommended trying it after 2026 (jamessuckling.com).

Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss gave it a score of 95, highlighting its "deceptively smooth texture and black fruits" that mask "great density and richness." He pointed out the firm tannins that promise future concentration and depth, suggesting the wine will be best enjoyed from 2027 (Wine Enthusiast).

Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate’s Lisa Perrotti-Brown rated it 93, noting its "medium to deep garnet-purple color" and an expressive nose of "baked black plums, boysenberries, and Morello cherries." She praised its "pleasant fruit wallop" and "lovely purity," finishing long with a firm, grainy frame (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate).

Decanter scored it 94, describing it as having "really ripe, heady perfumed fruit on the nose" with "smooth and sleek" tannins. The review emphasized its "refined" nature despite its concentration and power, calling it "bold, but beautiful" (Decanter).

Vinous' Neal Martin also gave a 94, appreciating its "fine bouquet" of blackberry, bilberry, cedar, and singed leather. He noted its medium-bodied palate with "fine grain tannin" and "fine acidity," marking it as the most impressive Branaire-Ducru he has encountered at this stage (Vinous).

Wine Spectator’s JM rated it 94, recognizing its "pure and driven" nature with "expressive cassis and plum puree aromas and flavors." The wine also features "graphite edge" and notes of "applewood, licorice root, and tobacco," with lovely energy throughout (Wine Spectator).

Jeb Dunnuck awarded it 94, appreciating its "deep purple color" and "earthy cassis and blackberry fruits." He described it as having "classic Saint-Julien pure fruit, sumptuous aromas and flavors," predicting it will mature in 5-7 years and last for 20-25 years or more (jebdunnuck.com).

Jeff Leve from TheWineCellarInsider.com gave it 95, noting its improvement from barrel to bottle. He highlighted its "black and red berries, smoke, mocha, flowers, and coffee bean" with an "elegant, refined, silky and fresh" profile and a "vibrant, red berry packed finish."

The Wine Independent gave it 92, describing its "deep garnet-purple color" and pronounced scents of "crème de cassis, stewed plums, and fruitcake." The palate is "rich and velvety with plenty of freshness and a long spicy finish" (The Wine Independent).

Overall, the 2018 Branaire-Ducru is highly praised for its aroma, texture, and aging potential, with consistent high scores across various reviewers.