Castle Brane-Cantenac - Margaux 2014

Le Point

16,5 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/21/2015

Fruits noirs, épices, cerise, bouche ample, généreuse en arômes, tanins frais et ronds, fin, gourmand, droit. 

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/11/2015

The 2014 Brane-Cantenac is a striking, wonderfully complex wine with a lot going on. Powerful at the outset yet also quite floral almost to the point of being exotic, the 2014 is certainly not lacking in nuance or personality. Hints of orange peel, mint, white flowers and berries open up gradually in a wine of understatement. The firm tannins add energy and convey an overall impression of classicism, while tobacco, iron and smoke punctuate the powerful, expressive finish. This is going to be a fascinating wine to follow over the coming years and decades. Tasted twice.

The Wine Cellar Insider

91-92 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/5/2015

Strawberry, caramel, thyme and cherries stir this perfume into action, soaking the palate with spice, cherries and dark cocoa. This medium-bodied wine has a classically, elegant, fresh finish making it all the more agreeable. From a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the wine reached 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.73. It represents 38% of the harvest. 91-92 Pts

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2015

The Château Brane-Cantenac 2014 is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, representing 38% of the total crop. It was picked between 22 September commencing with the Merlot up until 9 October finishing with the Cabernet Sauvignon. Yields came in at 44.8 hectoliters per hectare. It has a very typical nose for this Margaux estate: understated and reserved at first, touches of ground-up stone intermixed with brambly red berry fruit and damp undergrowth scents. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins. There is moderate weight in the mouth, plenty of sous-bois character and a touch of graphite (à la Pauillac) leading to a tapered but sustained finish. This is your straight-down-the-line classic Brane-Cantenac, unashamedly classic in style, what you might call "good old fashioned claret." Never the beauty queen at primeur, my remarks reflect how this Margaux blossoms in bottle.

Asian Palate

92-94 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2015

This is a wonderful vintage at Brane Cantenac with lifted floral and red fruits on the nose with focused, lovely acidity running through the wine. There is detail, precision and freshness in this wine with a fairly long finish. Two samples of this wine were tasted and one was noticeably better than the second one tasted at the UGC.

Decanter.com

17,5 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/17/2015

Lovely fragrance, the class evident from start to the finish. Very Brane-Cantenac: floral, great finesse, elegant persistence and a good future. Drink: 2019-2034 (91)

Jamessuckling.com

92-93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/10/2015

A solid core of fruit here with lots of cabernet character, as well as currants and blueberries. Full to medium body. Chewy tannins, yet polished and refined.

timatkin.com

92 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe4/7/2015

René Gabriel

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/1/2015

Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Dunkelbeeriges Bouquet, viel Brombeeren und dunkles Malz, unterlegt mit Kaffeetouch. Im Gaumen aromatisch und von den Tanninen her erstaunlich verlangend. Im Ansatz eigentlich recht schlank (und das sind ja die Brane's oft der Fall), das Finale ist dabei überraschend aromatisch und pfeffrig lang. Hier fehlt nur ganz wenig bis zum nächsten Punkt. 17/20 2023 – 2046

Wine Enthusiast

93 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/1/2015

92–94. Barrel Sample. This wine is dry, with some bitterness and a hard edge of dense tannins. The acidity pierces through the wine, so fresh as to be shocking in its intensity. It will certainly need plenty of time to integrate and mellow.

Wine Spectator

87-90 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2015

A gentle, elegant style, with pretty lilac, red currant and cherry notes, lined with a liberal savory hint that lingers through the sandalwood-edged finish.