Brane Cantenac - Margaux 2019

Vinous

97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe2/28/2022

The 2019 Brane-Cantenac is wild and exotic from the very first taste. The aromatics alone are dazzling. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, spice, tobacco, new leather, menthol and cinnamon are all kicked up in this flamboyant Margaux. The 2019 is radiant and generous, yet also retains a very classic sense of structure. The precision here is just unreal. In 2019, Brane-Cantenac is an absolute head-turner. It is the sort of wine that abounds in Bordeaux, a wine that offers tremendous quality and relative value.

Vinous

97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2022

The 2019 Brane-Cantenac is wild and exotic from the very first taste. The aromatics alone are dazzling. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, spice, tobacco, new leather, menthol and cinnamon are all kicked up in this flamboyant Margaux. The 2019 is radiant and generous, yet also retains a very classic sense of structure. The precision here is just unreal. In 2019, Brane-Cantenac is an absolute head-turner. It is the sort of wine that abounds in Bordeaux, a wine that offers tremendous quality and relative value.

Vinous

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/17/2022

The 2019 Brane-Cantenac, which was bottled at the beginning of July 2021, takes time to open in the glass. As I mentioned in my tasting note from barrel, this vintage was matured entirely in new oak from several cooperages and inevitably the wood is still present aromatically, though it is completely simpatico with the fruit concentration that the growing season bestowed. (Previously the Grand Vin saw 70%–80% new oak.) The intense bouquet features blackberry, crushed rock, touches of crushed flowers and a hint of lavender. The palate is beautifully balanced with layers of red berry fruit, orange peel, cedar and just a touch of graphite. As I said in my previous assessment, it does not set out to be a powerful Brane-Cantenac, which means that it retains a fine elegance toward the finish and a touch of white pepper mixed with clove on the aftertaste. (Still) excellent. 14.1% alcohol

WeinWisser

18,5 / 20

the7/7/2020

Bettane & Desseauve

96 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe7/3/2020

18

Yvesbeck.wine

95-96 / 100

byYves Beckthe6/18/2020

Pourpre violacé. Ce que le second vin laissait présager est clairement confirmé par le premier. Intensité, complexité et un cri du coeur, un appel à se servir un verre et de projeter le régal, car il est évident que le vin va être bon... C'est en tout cas si l'on s'en tient à ce qu'annonce le nez. Avec une telle richesse olfactive, le côté frais et variétal est indispensable, tellement l'expression fruitée est intense. La mise en bouche est intense de par son impact fruité et de par sa race. Il y a même une touche de sallinté qui souligné le côté salivant du vin et qui modère son côté charmant. Ce dernier est d'ailleurs bien relayé par les tanins qui sont suaves et qui se révèlent lentement en fin de bouche. Le vin s'installe lentement et prend ses marques. Il a de la délicatesse, de la finesse et un incroyable désir de s'exprimer. Le seul point qui me surprend actuellement se situe au niveau du corps qui me semble être en retrait d'un point de vue densité mais il faut dire qu'il a à faire à une tension marquante. Une question de "fine-tuning"! 2015-2049.

Decanter.com

96 / 100

byJane Ansonthe6/18/2020

A thoroughly moreish and high-quality Brane Cantenac, this is silky and seductive with impression extraction of the tannins giving backbone and support to brambled and cassis fruits. Plenty of crushed stone and spice to add a gourmet edge alongside the just-smoked oak. Extremely high quality and one of the best Branes I've tasted at this stage. 3% of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc complete the blend. For the first time, all of the plots fro this wine come from the plateau de Brane just in front of the château, a reflection of how well this terroir withstood the heat of the summer. Drinking window 2029-2046

Jeb DUNNUCK

93-95 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/18/2020

93-95+ The grand vin 2019 Château Brane-Cantenac takes it up a notch, revealing a deeper, saturated purple color, gorgeous notes of cassis, new leather, cedar pencil, and flowers, medium to full-bodied richness, and the elegance and purity that are the defining features of the vintage. It's almost already hard to resist, with beautiful balance and purity, yet still has solid underlying tannins. Again, the balance here is brilliant.

Vinous

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe6/16/2020

The 2019 Brane-Cantenac was cropped at 50hl/ha between 18 September and 9 October. Matured entirely in new oak, it is in possession of an almost pixelated bouquet with beguiling blackberry, bilberry and crushed limestone aromas. I find this less austere than some vintages of Brane-Cantenac at this prenatal stage. The palate is silky smooth on the entry with filigree tannins, very harmonious, not a deep or powerful Margaux, yet very delineated. There is that signature touch of greenness that I often find on Brane-Cantenac on the finish, though I have learned through experience that this is assimilated with bottle age, so have a cool cellar handy. Excellent.

Jamessuckling.com

93-94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe6/4/2020

This shows exotic aromas of blackberries, wet earth, chocolate and fresh basil leaves. It's full-bodied with round, creamy tannins and a flavorful finish. Intriguing and real on the palate.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

96 / 100

byJean-Marc Quarinthe5/20/2020

Couleur sombre et très intense, aux reflets pourpres. Nez très aromatique, au fruité mûr, subtil. Nuances de fruits noirs, touche d'encre. Gras à l'attaque, puis savoureux en milieu de bouche, puissant et très minitieux dans la nature de sa texture, le vin se développe ascendant, avec une étoffe tannique dense, supérieure à d'habitude tout en maintenant le style aérien et raffiné de sa stimulation. Longue finale complexe et surtout totalement incrachable. c'est inédit. Bravo! La grande nouveauté est cet hédonisme supplémentaire sans altération de l'esthétique. Tous les buveurs vont s'y retrouver!

The World of Fine Wines

93-95 / 100

byMichael Schusterthe5/13/2020

A marked minerality to smell, with a light Cabernet blackcurrant; medium-full, fresh in acidity, firmly but finely tannic in texture; sweet, plump, sensually textured Brane but,
unusually, a bit dried by its new wood. To date this has been typically 60–70% new oak, but
it is 100% this year. Graceful and tenacious to taste, complex, aromatic, superfine-textured,
close-grained wine, the 2nd-growth complexity and class are clearly there, the fruit is delicious, it is Margaux-fine, and it has lovely fruit-fragrant persistence. But the new-wood tannin texture does impinge, and detracts somewhat from the wine’s usual harmony. What is the rationale for this, I wonder? That said, this is glorious Brane-Cantenac, gorgeous Margaux. 2035–50+.