91 POINTS: JAMES SUCKLING - A clean and fresh wine with blueberry, mineral and floral character. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a crisp finish. This is a very refined and beautiful Branaire. 

90 POINTS : VINOUS - The 2012 Branaire-Ducru has a very lifted bouquet with vibrant black fruit, raspberry preserve, cedar and tobacco. There is something quite Pauillac-like about the 2012 as veins of graphite begin to surface. The palate is medium-bodied with vibrant black fruit tinged with boysenberry and black olive. It feels quite compact towards the second half, for BranaireDucru showing more density than recent vintages, but there is good balance here with a saline finish. Give this Saint-Julien another three or four years. Very fine. Tasted at the property.

90 POINTS: ROBERT PARKER - Deep ruby/purple, with sweet cranberry, mulberry and raspberry/blueberry fruit, this is always a distinctive St.-Julien and the 2012 has managed to avoid any of the hollowness or harsh tannins that can afflict some of the Médocs. It is elegant, well-made and an outstanding effort in this vintage. Drink it over the next 15 or more years.

90 POINTS: WINE SPECTATOR - Bay leaf and tobacco notes are backed by a core of damson plum, black cherry and red currant fruit. The bay leaf edge underlines the finish, with a hint of violet and a well-buried iron accent. An elegant expression of St.-Julien. Best from 2017 through 2024