Cantenac Brown - Margaux 2005

Vinous

92 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/15/2021

The 2005 Cantenac Brown offers an intriguing combination of plush fruit and intense tannins. Ripe red cherry fruit, cedar, spice, tobacco, menthol, cedar and rose petal all meld together in this decidedly luscious, bold Margaux. Soft curves and silky tannins make the 2005 a total pleasure to drink today, but it has more than enough freshness to develop well in bottle for another decade plus. This sumptuous Margaux is an absolute beauty.

La Revue du Vin de France

17 / 20

the10/20/2014

Issu de raisins bien mûrs et doté d'un charme évident, il offre un beau nez frais de fruits et une bouche bien dessinée, avec des tanins nobles et enrobés.

Wine Advocate

86 / 100

byNeal Martinthe6/16/2009

Tasted single blind at Southwold. This has a very pure blackberry, black plum nose with fluffy new oak. It certainly lacks some definition. The palate is very concentrated but lacking some tannic backbone. Dry and austere towards the abrupt, smoky finish. A little forced but not bad. Drink now-2016. Tasted January 2009.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

88 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

Good ruby-red. Blackberry, cassis and a dusty note on the nose. Sweet on entry, then quite firm in the middle, with black fruit, licorice and menthol flavors currently dominated by firm acidity, an element of fruity pepper and solid tannins. Not an easy style, but there's good intensity here. 88 (+?)

Wine Advocate

87 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/7/2008

Although the new owners were responsible for finishing this wine, serious Bordeaux lovers will have to wait for the 2006 to fully experience their uncompromising efforts. The dark, ruggedly built, rustic, angular 2005 exhibits an impressively saturated color along with aromas of charcoal smoke and black fruits. Aggressive, astringent tannins and noticeable acidity are found in this charmless, full-throttle, monolithic Margaux. It will require serious cellaring, but I do not believe the tannins and high acids will ever be fully resolved. Time will tell. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2030.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/22/2008

Jancis Robinson

16 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe12/18/2007

Blueish tine. Big and solid - even thick. Just a little point of acidity stops this from being a real winner. A little heavy but certainly what one would expect of the vintage here.

Wine Advocate

87-88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/3/2007

This estate has finally changed hands so hopefully the new owners will be able to build more charm into this ruggedly constructed, rustic Margaux that rarely lives up to its potential. The dark ruby/purple-tinged 2005 is an angular, hard effort possessing serious weight, but also a boatload of tannin. I doubt if any finesse will ever emerge from this monolithic wine. Give it 5-6 years of cellaring, keep your fingers crossed, and drink it over the following 15 years.

Wine Advocate

87-89 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/27/2006

As always, the 2005 is a ruggedly constructed, tough, tannic effort revealing attractive, earthy, black currant fruit intermixed with notions of herbs and new oak. A steely, slightly austere, medium-bodied, concentrated, firmly structured Margaux, it will require 3-4 years of bottle age. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2018.