Brane Cantenac - Margaux 2022

Alexandre Ma

99

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

The 2022 vintage of Château Brane-Cantenac is undoubtedly one of the most captivating wines I’ve encountered this year. Throughout the tasting, I found myself struggling to find the right words to describe its depth. Initially, the aromas are somewhat subdued, tightly woven with toasted notes, yet with a gentle swirl, it blossoms like a French peony in full bloom. Tasting this wine feels akin to listening to an elder narrating their life’s journey: a poet, staff of violets in hand, wandering through blackberry orchards, navigating pathways dusted with licorice and and strolling through a dense pine forest. Despite the challenges he faces—heat, drought, and many others—he walks on, dignified and unbowed, embracing the world with elegance and grace. If you’re seeking a wine that embodies the purest essence of Médoc, the 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac is a truly remarkable choice, offering exceptional value for its quality.

Wine Advocate

94

byWilliam Kelleythe3/7/2025

The 2022 Brane-Cantenac has turned out nicely in bottle, wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis and plums mingled with hints of cigar wrapper, violets and pencil shavings. Full-bodied, layered and velvety, with a lively core of fruit framed by rich, chalky tannins, it displays excellent energy and persistence. This blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc, Carmenère and Petit Verdot was bottled in July 2024.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

98

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

Deep plum colour, touch of grilled campfire smoke on the aromatics, good lift through the finish, this is so enjoyable, clearly skilled and full of joy. One of the wines of the vintage, totally delivers on En Primeur beauty. Technical director Christophe Capdeville, owner Henri Lurton, 100% new oak for ageing.

Decanter.com

98

byGeorgina Hindlethe3/7/2025

Crushed velvet smoothness and almost weightless purity. Gorgeous aromatics – wild flowers, bramble fruit and soft cinnamon. Bright berry fruit, salty mineral touches and a hint of liquorice create charm and depth. This exudes Margaux elegance with bounce, finesse and fleshiness. Already so enjoyable but built to develop further. An...

The Wine Cellar Insider

98

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Brane-Cantenac, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

99

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

An undeniable star in Margaux, the 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac checks in as a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% each Cabernet Franc, Carménère, and Petit Verdot. This deep purple-hued beauty offers up a sensational perfume of darker currants and cassis that gives way to more floral, spicy oak and graphite nuances with air. With flawless overall balance, ripe, velvety tannins, terrific purity, and a great finish, this riveting Brane-Cantenac already offers pleasure, yet I wouldn't be surprised to see this firm up with 4-5 years of bottle age, only to reemerge later and drink beautifully for 30+ years. It's one of the truly greats in the appellation, and readers will love to have this beauty in the cellar.

Yvesbeck.wine

97

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère, 1% Petit Verdot Brane-Cantenac 2022 fait usage de son charme, sa profondeur, sa finesse et même sa fraîcheur pour emmener tout un chacun vers des horizons dédiés aux saveurs et au plaisir. Les nuances d'élevage se fondent parmi des notes d'eucalyptus pendant que des parfums de réglisse et de pralinés invitent à goûter le vin. Dense et crémeux dès l'attaque, le vin ne manque pas d'également afficher une touche saline et même d'endosser un caractère linéaire, malgré sa largeur, tout en créant le lien entre des tannins aux grains fins et une tension salivante. J'avais demandé à Henri Lurton, durant les dégustations primeurs, s'il avait dit à son vin qu'il s'agit du millésime 2022. Au vu du résultat en bouteille, je pense qu'il ne le lui a toujours rien dit… l'essentiel étant que nous, nous soyons au courant. Un vin brillant, charmant, lumineux, enthousiasmant, séduisant et surtout très convaincant. J'ai rarement dégusté un Brane-Cantenac avec autant d'énergie et même des touches incisives plussoyées par son charme légendaire. Que du bonheur ! 2027-2047 97/100

Vinous

97

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Brane-Cantenac showed supremely well from barrel. Now in bottle, the aromatics are tightly wound at first, opening with each swirl to reveal blackberry, crushed stone, peony and cracked black pepper scents. It is quintessential Brane-Cantenac. The palate is medium-bodied with finely chiseled tannins that lend this Margaux unerring sym. Indeed, this is the finest balanced Brane-Cantenac that I have encountered to date. It is almost pixelated in quality and very focused, with wonderful depth, precision and gentle grip toward the finish. So much energy is packed into this wine that it is almost impossible to detect the 100% new oak. It’s brilliant.

Jamessuckling.com

97

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

So aromatic with blackcurrant, blueberry and violet aromas that follow through to a medium body with ultrafine tannins that are extremely integrated and refined and go on for minutes. Some lead pencil and stone at the end. Very complex and subtle for the vintage. 74% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 1% cabernet franc, 1% petit verdot and 1% carmenere. Drink after 2029 and beyond.

Vinous

97

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Brane-Cantenac is every bit as impressive as it was _en primeur_. What a wine. Fresh, brisk and wonderfully vibrant in the glass, the 2022 soars with striking Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics. Graphite, menthol, sage, mint, licorice, dried flowers and a kiss of well-judged oak all meld together in the glass. Great wine is the result of many small decisions taken together, some of which may seem inconsequential on their own. The team led by Technical Director Christophe Capdeville nailed it in 2022. This is a magnificent Margaux that overachieves big time. The 2022 is one of the most finessed wines of the vintage.

Wine Maniacs

94-95

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

98

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

One of the standouts of the year - a wonderful wine with so much to like. Coffee, tobacco, liquorice, dark chocolate, blackcurrants and floral scents on the nose. Smooth, succulent and velvety, this is amazing, juicy and so bright and vibrant. Pure and so effortless, tannins are filling but fine and delicate and this has excellent clarity and purity of fruit. They really didn't try too hard but have still delivered a powerful wine with concentration and intensity yet brightness and such generosity of fruit and acidity which makes this so joyful. Simply wonderful. Harvest 7 September-10 October. Yield of 31.5hl/ha. 3.61pH. 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere complete the blend. 42% production. 15.8% press wine. Ageing 18 months, 100% new oak. 3.57pH.

Alexandre Ma

98-99

byAlexandre Mathe5/17/2023

The 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac is one of the most captivating wines I've had this year, rendering me speechless at various moments during the tasting. Initially, its aroma appears restrained, enshrouded by toasted notes; however, a gentle swirl of the glass unveils layers of French peonies. Savoring this wine is akin to talking with a sage: a sojourner bearing a violet scepter traverses an abundant raspberry grove, scales mountains strewn with licorice and Sichuan pepper, and meanders through pine-scented forests drenched in resin. Unfazed by the challenges of heat and drought, the wine still exudes elegance and nobility, embracing the world with its dignity. If your wish to experience the best essence of Médoc in the 2022 vintage, Château Brane-Cantenac 2022 is the unrivaled choice.

Vinous

96-98

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

The 2022 Brane-Cantenac, as usual, is a wine that you must sit and contemplate before words gush forth. It was picked from 7 September to 10 October (their tiny plot of Carmenère) at 31.5hL/ha and contains 16% vin de presse from the Cabernet Sauvignon. It is well-defined and fresh, a very subtle Margaux, precise with blackberry, wild strawberry, cedar and tobacco scents. As previous vintages have proven, there's a kind of "hidden depth" that will become apparent post-bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, very elegant and unashamedly classic in style. This is blessed with haunting poise, composed and detailed on the finish. This Margaux is not a show stopper, which in any case, is not really Henri Lurton/Brane Cantenac’s signature style. Instead, it is a wine that 15 to 20 years down the road, you are going to treasure.

The Vintage Journal

94-95

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Medium deep crimson. Blackcurrant, vanilla hint marzipan aromas. Bitter-sweet cassis, black cherry fruits, very good mid-palate density and persistent firm grainy tannins. Builds into a long chocolaty tannin plume at the finish. (Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot dominant blend with tiny parcels Peitit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Carmenere 70% new oak)

matthewjukes.com

18,5

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

The Wine Independent

95-97

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/15/2023

A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2022 Brane-Cantenac has a pH of 3.61 and there is 15.8% press wine in the blend. It has a deep garnet-purple color and it is a little subdued to start with notes of cedar chest and redcurrant preserves leading the charge, soon giving way to a profound core of crème de cassis, juicy black plums, and candied violets, with a touch of iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is simply electric, shimmering with bright, energetic black and red berry layers, supported by super-ripe, finely grained tannins and amazing tension, finishing long and perfumed. Stunning!

Yvesbeck.wine

97-98

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Le style de Brane-Cantenac est bien mis en évidence avec un boisé qui évoque la torréfaction ainsi que d'invitantes notes de fruits noirs et d'eucalyptus. L'attaque est dense et suave. Le vin a du corps, des tannins veloutés, et une puissance bien canalisée idéalement couplée à une rafraîchissante tension qui se manifeste en fin de bouche. Brane-Cantenac reste Brane-Cantenac, d'une manière démonstrative et assumée avec tout le charme que cela implique mais aussi toute l'harmonie qui est nécessaire à ce type de construction. Un vin brillant, une fois encore ! J'ai vu quelques vins qui passent complètement à travers du millésime, dans la mesure où il performe aussi bien que d'habitude pratiquement sans changer de style. Ajoutons-y un peu de finesse, d'énergie, d'éclat aromatique et le tour est joué ! Un très grand Brane-Cantenac.

Bettane & Desseauve

95

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Elégant dans sa forme, dans ses arômes et dans son évolution au moment de la dégustation avec un peu moins de chair en milieu de bouche que ce qu’on pouvait attendre du millésime. C'est une grande réussite et un vin qui confirme le niveau excellent des vins encore abordables de cette propriété.

Jeb DUNNUCK

96-98

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

I was absolutely blown away by the 2022 Château Brane-Cantenac, which looks to be a reference point vintage for this château. Based on 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, and Petit Verdot, it sports a deep purple hue to go with incredible aromatics of crème de cassis, lead pencil, sandalwood, and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shines for its purity of fruit, has ultra-fine tannins, a great mid-palate, and one heck of a finish. It hit 14.3% alcohol with a pH of 3.6, and like many estates today, they utilized quite a bit of press wine (15%) in the final blend. This is clearly up with the finest wines from the appellation and is well worth seeking out.

Vinous

95-97

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Brane-Cantenac is captivating. Aromatic, savory and layered, the 2022 is so alluring from the outset. The natural radiance of the year is very much on display, and yet there is nothing that is overdone about the 2022. Hints of blood orange, spice, rose petal and minerals open over time, offering stunning contrast to the sheer intensity of the fruit shaped by low yields and tiny berries. Brane-Cantenac is, in my view, one of the most under-the-radar wines on the Left Bank. The 2022 is a stunner. Drinking window : 2030-2052

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Deeply colored, the wine opens with violets, lilacs, roses, cigar wrappers, creme de cassis, spice and lavender aromatics in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is pure silk and velvet. There is a beautiful elegance, symmetry, and balance you notice as soon as the wine graces your palate. There is length, purity, and refinement making this effortless to taste. The finish has no edges, leaving you with a wealth of sensuous fruits. Fans of Brane Cantenac should run, not walk, and buy this gem as prices continue to remain reasonable for a wine of this character, and quality. The wine blends 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 1% of Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Carmenere. The wine is 14.3% ABV, 3.61 pH. The harvest took place September 7 - October 4, with the Carmenere being picked October 10. This is the earliest start to a harvest in the history of the estate. Yields were 31.5% hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was produced from only 42% of the harvest. Drink from 2027-2055.

Wine Advocate

95-97

byWilliam Kelleythe5/2/2023

A blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc, Carmenère and Petit Verdot, the 2022 Brane-Cantenac unwinds in the glass with aromas of dark berries, crème de cassis, black truffles, loamy soil, burning embers and violets. Medium to full-bodied, deep and velvety, with a fleshy core of fruit, terrific concentration and lively acids, it concludes with a long, perfumed finish. This is a terrific 2022 that may rival or even surpass the 2019 if it realizes all its potential in bottle.

Jamessuckling.com

96-97

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

A long and very linear red for Margaux with intense freshness and energy. The cabernet sauvignon shows real clarity with blackcurrants and flowers. Crushed stone. Firm and racy with lots of lemon rind and intensity. 74% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 1% cabernet franc, 1% petit verdot and 1% carmenere.