The 1995 Branaire-Ducru has a generous bouquet that might be a tad riper than the 1996 with blackberry, dark plum, a touch of sage and tobacco all with fine delineation. The palate is more forward than the 1996, a little ripe but I prefer the structure on the 1995. A subtle saline touch on the entry, dusky red-berried fruit with cedar and a touch of tobacco on the finish. Lovely. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at a vertical in London.

Currant and black licorice, with a coffee undertone. Plummy. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long caressing finish. A beauty. Holding back still.--'95/'96 Bordeaux retrospective.

One of the better wines from what has become a difficult vintage, due to the strong, harsh nature of the tannins, here you find a wine that is classic in nature. Firm, slightly rustic and with a touch of green in the nose and palate, this is what old-school, classic Bordeaux is all about. The wine is full-bodied and loaded with fruit, but rustic nature of the tannins intrude on what otherwise would have been a nice party. Tasted Nov 2018

A beauty in the elegant, restrained, finesse school of winemaking, the dark ruby/purple-colored 1995 Branaire exhibits a floral, cranberry, cherry, and black currant-scented nose intermixed with high quality toasty new oak. Medium-bodied, with excellent definition, supple tannin, and an attractive, alluring personality, this pleasant, measured yet complex wine should drink well young, and keep for two decades.

Good medium red-ruby color. Less expressive but lively aromas of blue fruits and brown spices, plus a hint of confiture Not as ripe or fleshy as the '96, but the dark berry and licorice flavors are currently rather tightly wrapped and unforthcoming. Finishes with substantial dusty (oak?) tannins that betray a slight astringency. Perhaps still in shock from the bottling.

(56% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot and 4% cabernet franc; 3.74 pH; 13.3% alcohol): Dark red with an amber rim. Rather subdued aromas of red fruits, earth and coffee. Enters the bright and floral, then showcases darker flavors of black plum, underbrush and graphite. Finishes moderately long, with slightly drying tannins and modest complexity. I find this to be slightly less successful than the 1996.