Brane Cantenac - Margaux 2020

Vinous

95

byNeal Martinthe11/4/2025

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac is cut from a similar cloth to the 2019 rather than the 2018. Quite strict at first, it opens with blackberry, cedar and tobacco notes, veering strongly towards Pauillac as Brane-Cantenac is wont to do. The nose has wonderful delineation but is certainly less expressive than the 2019 at the moment. The palate is very well balanced with silky-smooth tannins and perfectly judged acidity. Sapid and focused with plenty of grip on the finish, this supremely gifted wine will require patience, but it will be worth it. Tasted at the Brane-Cantenac vertical at the château in September 2025.

Vinous

95-95

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2025

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac shows a little wood influence on the nose at the moment, presently obscuring some of the terroir. Savory elements emerge with time and improve with each swirl of the glass. The palate is medium-bodied, quite saline and spicy, with a marine-infused entry, though is needs more refinement toward the finish. Quite structured and serious, this Margaux requires time in bottle, yet there is pedigree from start to finish. Though this is not a 2020 I would touch for a few years, it will eventually reach its high potential. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting.

Alexandre Ma

96

byAlexandre Mathe4/18/2023

Wine Advocate

94

byWilliam Kelleythe4/6/2023

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac has turned out nicely, offering up aromas of blackberries and crème de cassis mingled with notions of licorice, pencil shavings, violets and subtle hints of smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a lavish core of fruit, ripe acids and sweet tannins that assert themselves on the savory finish, it can't quite match the purity and sensuality of the 2019, but it's a strong effort.

Jeb DUNNUCK

97

byJeb Dunnuckthe3/30/2023

This estate has been on a roll, and their 2020 Château Brane-Cantenac is another brilliant wine that readers will love. Largely in the mold of the 2019, it has a deep purple hue as well as an incredible bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherries, freshly sharpened pencils, tobacco, and flowers. This medium to full-bodied, richly textured, concentrated, yet remarkably elegant 2020 has the vintage's fresher, focused, elegant profile but still brings plenty of flesh and opulence. Beautifully done, it’s going to evolve for a solid 30 years in cold cellars and offer incredible pleasure all its life.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97

byJeff Levethe3/22/2023

With pungent notes of flowers, tobacco leaf, blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, smoke, and wet earthy nuances, the perfume is in full force. The fruits on the palate offer purity, elegance, lift, and silky tannins, which is a good thing, because you want as much of these gorgeous, sweet, pure, red fruits as possible. The velvet and silk finish is a treat to taste and experience. This is another stellar vintage for Brane Cantenac, an estate that has been on a non-stop roll. This is a wow wine that fans of the estate should run, not walk, and buy as for now, prices are still more than reasonable. Drink from 2025-2055.

Alexandre Ma

96

byAlexandre Mathe3/15/2023

Wines Critic

94

byRaffaele Vecchionethe3/10/2023

Precise and essential in the glass showing notes of blackberries, wild cherries, mandarin peel, pink grapefruit, rose petals and gardenias. Full bodied, soft tannins and a juicy, linear finale. Drink now or hold.

Vinous

96

byAntonio Gallonithe2/24/2023

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac screams with Cabernet Sauvignon character, concentrated by the natural richness of the year. Super-ripe dark blue/black fruit, blueberry jam, crème de cassis, lavender, sage and menthol meld together, giving the Brane-Cantenac an exotic quality that is impossible to miss. The oak imprint remains quite present, but at the same time, it is well balanced. Time in the glass brings out a whole range of floral and savory notes that add character and a feeling of updated classicism. Yields were 31 hectoliters per hectare as opposed to the more typical 40 or so.

Vinous

96

byNeal Martinthe2/15/2023

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac was bottled towards the end of July, a little later than usual, partly due to the logistics. It takes time to open in the glass, offering gorgeous blackberry, pencil box and tobacco scents that gain intensity with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins and outstanding delineation. Very cohesive, this is a supremely focused Brane-Cantenac that lives up to the billing after such an impressive showing en primeur. So precise on the finish, with light graphite notes lingering on the aftertaste. Wonderful.

Jamessuckling.com

98

byJames Sucklingthe1/16/2023

Blackberries, plums, currants, tobacco and violets on the nose. Bitter chocolate and mocha, too. It’s refined and focused, with a medium to full body and firm, tightly-knit tannins. Very long, laser-focused and polished. Very classy. Best of the trilogy. Try after 2027.

Yvesbeck.wine

97

byYves Beckthe1/3/2023

S'il y a bien un élément qu'il faut louer dans le bouquet de Brane-Cantenac c'est sa fraîcheur, son
végétal noble, son Cabernet bien assumé ! Evidemment, le tout est complété par des nuances d'iris,
de tabac blond et de cassis. Enfin, en résumé, c'est complexe ! Ce que le bouquet annonce avec un
côté très affirmatif et bien assumé par le palais. Le vin a de la richesse, de la sucrosité, de la
profondeur, et du pep. Les tannins, aux grains fins, sont en phase avec une acidité qui l'aide à agiter
les papilles gustatives… elle est énergisante ! Un vin charmant, convaincant et j'ai envie de finir avec
végétal, parce que c'est bon et qu'on aime ça. Voilà, c'est dit ! 2027-2047

TASTED

96

byAndreas Larssonthe7/6/2021

Intense, complex and layered nose, really fine oak toast and mocha notes with ripe and pure fruit. Lovely balance on the palate, very pure cabernet flavours, ripe black currant, dark plum and tobacco with super polished but present and refreshing tannin, layered with a fine spiciness and very long supple finish.

Vinous

94-96

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac is deep, fleshy and savory. Strong Cabernet accents open first, leading to a core of inky dark fruit, lavender, spice, mint and chocolate. There is some new oak that needs to integrate, but time should take care of that. I especially admire the sense of classicism and energy here. This is a superb showing from Brane-Cantenac and the team led by Henri Lurton.

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

Deep purple-hued, the 2020 Château Brane-Cantenac is another remarkable 2020 in the making. Beautiful blackberry and cassis fruits as well as notes of chocolate, lead pencil, and flower all define the nose, and it has the vintage's pure, focused, surprisingly fresh profile while still being concentrated and textured. The balance is spot on and the tannins are polished as well, so it should have some up-front appeal, yet smart money will be on giving this at least 4-6 years of bottle age.

Vinous

95-97

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac was picked September 14–28 and includes 13% vin de presse. It has exactly the same blend as last year since Henri Lurton and his team did not limit the Grand Vin to the 30-hectare plateau, a similar approach to Pichon-Baron when they reorganized their own vineyard. I allowed my sample an hour to open (during which I was discussing the wine with Lurton over Zoom). It has a beautifully defined bouquet of blackberry, wild hedgerow, fresh mint and light bay leaf scents. I have sometimes found a little greenness on the nose, but there is none in 2020. The palate is very well balanced with finely chiseled, precise tannins and beautifully judged acidity. Harmonious and poised, this is an absolutely fantastic Brane-Cantenac, in my mind superior to the previous two vintages, exuding wonderful mineralité on the finish. A must-buy.

Decanter.com

94

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

Violet-edged, lovely vibrant colour. A low-yield wine that has kept an impressively fresh core, with expressive fruits and a vibrant grip through the centre of the wine. Powerful, tight tannins and the concentration becomes clearer in the glass, a ton of bilberry, sage and rosemary aromatics, with a generous helping of graphite and crushed stone. All of these wines are going to need very careful ageing - although the reasonable alcohols should help. A yield of 31hl/ha. 18 months ageing in a mix of new oak barrels and amphoras. 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenère completes the blend. Tasted twice.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

Blackberry liqueur, creme de cassis, violets, tobacco leaf and earthy nuances create the attention seeking nose. Dark in color, with equally dark, palate-coating fruits with layers of velvet-textured, sensuous, sexy, deep red berries. The fruits display a majestic sense of purity. The elegant, silky finish remains with you for close to 60 seconds, expanding and building in intensity. This is a wow wine that fans of the estate should run, not walk and buy as soon as its offered. The wine blends 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere 13.7% ABV pH 3.71. The harvest took place September 14-September 28. 96-98

Wine Advocate

91-93

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

The 2020 Brane-Cantenac is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère and 1% Petit Verdot. It weighs in with 13.7% alcohol and a pH of 3.71. Deep purple-black colored, it has a beautifully expressive nose of fresh redcurrants, blackcurrant jelly, kirsch and rose oil, plus hints of tobacco leaf, wild sage and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled with a plush texture and plenty of freshness supporting the red berry and earthy flavors, finishing fragrant.

Anthocyanes

94-96

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Très épicé et cassis, le nez est un peu graphite, réglisse et légèrement bourgeon de cassis. Bouche tannique, du fond, du volume, des tanins élégants avec une structure puissante. Très poivré également. Un beau Brane-Cantenac, plutôt massif mais qui reste équilibré et frais. Une belle bouteille qui passera plusieurs décennies sans aucun souci.

Bernard Burtschy

96-97

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

Falstaff

93-95

byPeter Moserthe5/10/2021

Würzig und floral im Duft, seht typisch für das Château, etwas feuchter Kies, Malz und rote und schwarze Johannisbeere. Im Mund mit feinkörnigem, plastischem Tannin, einem mineralisch unterlegten Säurenerv, viel Saftigkeit und einem äußerst eleganten, mineralsich pointierten Abklang. Im Hintergrund aber trotz der Eleganz durchaus auch mollig. Sehr gute Länge.

My Bettane + Desseauve

96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021

Jamessuckling.com

96-97

byJames Sucklingthe5/4/2021

Extremely floral and beautiful with blackberry and blackcurrant aromas that follow through to a full body with a solid core of fruit and loads of dark fruit, sweet tobacco, bark and earth. Chewy, fine tannins. Perhaps the best of the trilogy years.