2023 Chateau Brane-Cantenac - 2eme Cru Classe Margaux

Decanter.com – 96 pts – GH: *Very aromatic, gorgeous florality on the nose, so inviting and welcoming. Really open and generous - roses, violets, peonies, red cherries and strawberries. Supple and juicy, instantly quite pretty and fun, a lively bright aspect to the red fruits - cranberry, crisp green apple, raspberry and strawberry then the fine tannins come into play and give the structure and the focus to the finish. It’s a little less plush than Brane is normally - usually more gentle, fleshy and smooth - this is a little two-toned with influence from the new oak in the tightness but there’s great potential here. Feels a bit more like a St-Julien expression - calm, relaxed, smooth, intentional, juicy and lifted. Less charming right now, more tense and precise. Ageing 18 months, 100 new oak. 13.7% press wine. 40% grand vin production.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 95 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Delikate florale Nuancen, Cassis, frische Waldbeeren, einladendes Bukett, Mittlere Komplexität, elegant, finessenreich strukturiert, feine Tannine, balanciert und gut anhaftend, zeigt gute Typizität, ein vielversprechender Speisenbegleiter.* - 05/2024

Vinum Magazin – 97/100 pts: *Besonders verführerisch im Duft; noble Röstnoten, reife, Schwarze Johannisbeere, Würze, schwarze Schokolade, Tabak, Veilchen; vollmundig im Auftakt, zupackend am mittleren Gaumen, dicht, mit grandiosem Spannungsbogen, sensationelle Tanninqualität, hervorragende Länge, ein aus dem Stein gemeisseltes Wein-Monument.*

WeinWisser – 18,5+/20 pts – GL, TW: *77 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Merlot, 1 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot, 1 % Carmenère, 13.5 Vol.-%, pH 3.59, 45.7 hl/ha. Sehr komplexes, tiefgründiges Bouquet, Wildkirsche, Sandelholz und Baumnuss. Im zweiten Ansatz Schokopraline, edle Cassiswürze und Lakritze. Am saftigen Gaumen mit einer Textur wie Samt und Seide, betörender Extraktfülle, energiegeladener Rasse und durchtrainiertem Körper, sehr dicht und präzise. Im konzentrierten Finale mit einer Explosion von Heidelbeere, Lakritze und erhabener Adstringenz. Grandiose Leistung dieses Jahr, Chapeau Henri Lurton.* – 04/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 17/20pts – JL: *77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenère. Cask sample. Good depth of fruit marked by the Cabernet. Cassis and mint aromas. Fine, linear and long, the tannins polished and integrated. Really quite refined.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – AG: *The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is a sensual, silky wine. There's plenty of depth and structure behind that, but the first impression is most definitely one of elegance. Crushed flowers, spice and dried herbs meld into a core of super-expressive, dark, red-toned fruit. The 100% new oak is impeccably balanced within the wine’s frame. Brane-Cantenac remains one of the best relative values in Bordeaux, or anywhere, for that matter. This is a fine effort from proprietor Henri Lurton and his team. Tasted two times.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (93-95) pts – NM: *The 2023 Brane-Cantenac was picked from September 4 to October 2 at 45.7hL/ha with the highest IPT (/Indice de Polyphénols Totaux/, a measurement of tannin) ever with respect to the Merlot, which underwent some saignée in tank. Matured entirely in new oak, it has wonderful delineation on the nose, quite floral with pressed violets infusing the lifted black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a silky-smooth entry and a silver bead of acidity. Pure black fruit infused with graphite lends this Pauillac-like attributes, sustained on the finish, as usual. This is a very classical Brane-Cantenac— a worthy follow-up to the 2022.* - 04/2024

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (95-97) pts – JL: *Cuban cigars, cedar, cassis, spice, forest floor, and flowers open the perfume. On the palate, the wine shines with its silky textures, vibrancy, and hints of salty rocks that ride along effortlessly, with its layers of, sweet, ripe, black with red fruits. There is length, and refinement. Taking close to 1 month to harvest is what the difference with 2023. This is another vintage that Brane Cantenac lovers should have in their cellars. The wine blends 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. 13.5% ABV, 3.77 pH. The harvest took place September 4 - October 2. The Grand Vin was produced from only 40% of the harvest. Drink from 2029-2055.* - 05/2024