Branaire does a great job with classic, elegant and well-balanced vintages, and here it really is delivering a delicious St-Julien. Plenty of depth to the fruit, alongside pencil lead aromatics. Traces of fig and spice that reflect the drought conditions of early in the year, but it has elegance and sapidity through the finish and is extremely classic. 4% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. Drinking Window 2021 - 2040
Blind tasted by Jane Anson (at Bordeaux, 19 Feb 2021)
Part of Bordeaux 2011: The top-rated wines tasted 10 years on

A very pretty red with flowers, blackberries, and blueberries. Full and silky with racy tannins and a long finish. Some hints of cocoa and pleasant bitterness. Well structured.

An underrated wine that has shed its youthful austerity to offer terrific drinking today, the 2011 Branaire-Ducru exhibits aromas of sweet cassis, loamy soil, cigar wrapper and classy new oak, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated palate framed by powdery tannins and lively acids. On release, it was far from apparent that this would emerge as a charming classic, but in a blind tasting, I mistook it for the estate's 2010.

A very elegant style, with a violet frame to the supple red currant, blueberry and black cherry fruit flavors that mingle with high-toned spice on the finish. Offers fine-grained structure.—J.M.

Bright, deep ruby-red. Sappy aromas of raspberry, blackcurrant and sweet spices are complicated by an intense note of violet. Bright and juicy in the mouth, offering excellent volume for the vintage as well as noteworthy floral lift to the fresh dark currant and plum flavors. The wine's sappy quality gives it good inner-mouth energy and early deliciousness, even if it lacks the structure of the best vintages. On the other hand, by avoiding overextraction the lovely 2011 Branaire-Ducru offers plenty of early appeal.

A dense blue/ruby/purple color is followed by notes of raspberries, incense and spring flowers, supple tannins, medium body and excellent elegance as well as purity. The result is a suave, savory 2011. While it does not possess the size or richness of vintages such as 2009 and 2010, the 2011 has plenty of charm and appeal. Drink it over the next decade. Drink: 2014 - 2024
-Robert Parker, Wine Advocate #212 Apr 2014

(91-93)
A top-notch effort from this estate, the 2011 exhibits an exotic perfume of lead pencil shavings, white chocolate, raspberry jam and red as well as black currants. Loads of fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel and velvety tannin suggest this beauty will drink well for 15+ years. It is one of the stars of the appellation in this vintage. Bravo!

The 2011 is a blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 5% Petit Verdot and 4% Cabernet Franc that was picked between 14th and 29th September at just 37hl/ha. It has a straightforward bouquet of light fresh red berry fruit laced with orange rind and graphite, focused but not powerful. After five minutes there is a brine or fish scale note. The palate has a chalky entry with crisp acidity, just a little hardness in the mouth but the finish is softer. There are notes of blackberry, pain grille and graphite with a dry, crisp finish. Fine. Tasted April 2012.

[67CS/24M/5PV/4CF] Quite dense, mineral and freshly ripe fruit nose; moderately concentrated, moderate in fine tannin, a lively middleweight impression; nothing grand here, but a pleasing, flowing, easy, ripe fruited and gently mineral wine, with a good, medium length finish. This will make an attractive bottle, accessible early. 2018-28 [M.Schuster, Bordeaux Mar/Apr 2012]

Deep black cherry colour. Perfumed with cassis, vanilla and spice with a slight green note. More dry and savoury on the palate but there's a cool freshness and balance that leaves the mouth fresh. (JH)