Château Brane Cantenac - Margaux 2005

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe6/30/2015

A sexy, style of wine from the Lurtons at Brane-Cantenac, this wine (a blend of 51% Cabernet Sauvignon, 41% Merlot and the rest Cabernet Franc) has a stunning nose of forest floor, licorice, blackcurrants, plums and spring flowers. Soft tannin, full-bodied opulence and beautifully textured, lush richness, make for a brilliant wine from this large, 180-acre vineyard. In spite of the wine’s stunning forward fragrance and lushness, the color still looks as if it is 3-4 years old, rather than a decade. This is a big-time winner in 2005 and should drink well for at least another 25+ years.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe2/9/2015

Mid crimson with a pale rim. Neat and fragrant. Relatively transparent and lively. Only the heavy charge of tannins betrays the vintage because this is one of the less dense 2005s. But it’s a charming wine with some pace. 

13% Drink 2020-2035
(17-)

La Revue du Vin de France

16,5 / 20

the10/20/2014

Nez complet aux notes de fruits noirs. Il se révèle déjà savoureux. Touche mentholée agréable en finale.

La Revue du Vin de France

17,5 / 20

the8/10/2009

Vin très équilibré enre fruits et épices, avec une trame satinée, des tanins fondus, une puissance sous-jacente, une finale longue et racée. Beau cru tout en finesse et fraîcheur. Patience.

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe6/16/2009

Tasted single blind at Southwold. The nose has definitely become more subdued on this Brane-Cantenac since I last tasted it in 2006 although the blackberry and briary fruit has great definition with that scent of liquorice still there. It has a dense palate with chewy tannins, powerful ripe black fruit and well integrated cedar and a dash of black pepper towards the finish with good length. Excellent. Drink 2012-2020. Tasted January 2009.

Dussert Gerber

/ 100

the10/30/2008

Le beau 2005, avec cette robe pourpre profonde très sombre, ce nez de fruits rouges (cérises) et de cannelle, beaucoup de volume, aux tanins fondus et arrondis, très long en bouche, avec beaucoup de fraîcheur malgré la grande maturité. Très prometteur.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

91 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe6/30/2008

Good bright red-ruby. Subdued but pure aromas of currant, dark chocolate and sexy oak. Moderately sweet, medium-bodied and vinous, with ripe acidity and a floral element providing mid-palate lift. Still a bit medicinal and unevolved, but this has the serious structure to develop slowly and well in bottle. Finishes long and firm. 91 (+?)

Wine Enthusiast

94 / 100

byRoger Vossthe5/31/2008

The fruit has becode the main attraction here -layers of ripeness, tempered with an elegant smoothness. The tannins are certainly present in this powerful wine, but they are here to lend support, not dominate. With herbs and very clean black fruits, this is a wine to follow.

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/7/2008

This is the finest Brane-Cantenac I have tasted in over thirty years. Unusually perfumed and already approachable (atypical for most 2005 Medocs), it reveals a deep plum/purple color as well as a stunningly flamboyant bouquet of smoked herbs, licorice, camphor, black cherries, currants, and notions of plums and blackberries. Elegant with silky tannin and medium body, it is clearly a classic statement on the Margaux appellation. While not a powerhouse, it is beautifully concentrated, stunningly balanced, and surprisingly forward. It could be drunk now after several hours of decanting, but it should age easily for 20+ years.

Vinum

17 / 20

the3/31/2008

Der schönste Brane der jüngeren Zeit! Wir wiederholen unser Primeur-Urteil : der schönste Brane der jüngeren Zeit. Dicht, feurig, aber auch voller Rasse und mit Schliff. 2015 bis 2025.

Wine Spectator

92 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/22/2008

Schows mineral and blackberryaromas, with hints of licorice. Full-bodied, with soft, silky tannins and a long smoky, earthy, meaty and fruity aftertaste. Long and stylish. Very refined and beautiful. Best after 2012.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe12/18/2007

Attractive lift -aromatic (rare at this point for 2005s). Solid on the palate but well balanced and very creditable. No faults or points of unripeness. Still quite chewy. This seemed to show much better in bottle than en primeur when its sweetness seemed almost overwhelming.

La Revue du Vin de France

17 / 20

the11/30/2007

Nez riche et épanoui, avec des notes de violette et de fruits noirs bien mûrs. La bouche est généreuse, et les tanins serrés et ronds.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90-92 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/31/2007

Good deep ruby-red. Deep aromas of plum, dark cherry, minerals, chocolate and flowers. Juicy, bright and unforced; not particularly fleshy but intense and subtle, with lovely penetration and cut. Finishes aromatic persistent, with building tannins and a suggestion of black olive. This should put on weight asa it ages in the bottle.

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/3/2007

A magnificent effort, the 2005 is the greatest Brane-Cantenac I have tasted. Even more compelling than it was last year, it admirably demonstrates why this was such a highly regarded property in the middle of the 19th century. Boasting a dense purple color, stunning sweetness, and a glorious perfume of spring flowers, lead pencil shavings, black cherry jam, and blackberries, it is an elegantly styled wine with gorgeous concentration, superb harmony, beautifully integrated tannin and acidity, and an expansive, long finish. Yet, the overall impression is one of finesse, elegance, and serious flavor concentration. While it will undoubtedly last 30 years or more, it is hard to know whether it will close down or become more drinkable. I recommend giving it 3-4 years of bottle age and drinking it over the following two and a half decades.

Guide des vins Gilbert & Gaillard

91 / 100

the1/1/2007

Robe rouge vif, moyennement concentrée. Nez net, sur le fruit, très croquant. Très jolie bouche fruitée, tout en souplesse. Beaucoup de charme et de persistance aromatique, notamment une savoureuse finale poivrée.

La Revue du Vin de France

4 / 5

the10/11/2006

Très fin, belle densité, raffiné, il rejoint les qualités du beau millésime 2000.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17 / 20

the10/11/2006

Grande couleur. Grand nez de goudron, d'épices, de fruits très mûrs, vanillé aussi. Le vin rentre en bouche avec une grande délicatesse de toucher. Très floral, très fruité, très suave et fin en milieu de bouche, il fond délicatement et s'achève sur une grande longueur complexe et sapide...Grande longueur.

GaultMillau

18-20 / 100

the7/1/2006

Vin aux arômes de cerise, de menthe, à la fois soyeux, sirupeux et frais. Léger, toasté et très agréable. La bouche est ample, grasse et épaisse. On retrouve des flaveurs de fruits noirs, le tout inscrit sur une partition de tannins très fins. Une très belle réussit! Un grand vin de garde.

Vinum

17 / 20

the6/1/2006

Was wir besonders mögen an diesem Tropfem, sind seine Ausgewogenheit und Eleganz. Er besitzt die Komponenten des Jahrgangs - Frische, Struktur, Rasse, Fülle-, doch alles ohne Exzess. Das immer etwas breite Finale, das uns in früheren Jahren störte, ist dem Eindruck von leckeren rotten Beeren gewichen. Der schönste Brane, den wir bis heute verkostet haben. 2012 bis 2020.

Carnets de dégustation RVF

8.50 / 10

the4/30/2006

Robe sombre; nez peu ouvert, très fin; dense en attaque, joli milieu de bouche, léger creux, finale de classe: doté d'une belle densité, raffiné, Brane-Cantenac 2005 retrouve les qualités du beau 2000.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/27/2006

This dark plum/ruby-tinged Margaux displays a rich bouquet of dried herbs, truffles, meat juices, plums, anise, and black currants. Medium to full-bodied and complex, with a savory, broad, expansive mouthfeel, undeniable elegance, good freshness, and a long, moderately tannic finish, it requires 3-4 years of bottle age (or more if it closes down). It should evolve gracefully for 25+ years.

Decanter Magazine

4 / 5

the4/13/2006

Deep color with a fragrantlift of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon, shows strength of flavour. Without heaviness, leafy, very Margaux, long lingering finish. Drink 2010-2025

Wine Spectator

89-91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe3/28/2006

Bright berry and currant aromas with hints of minerals follow through to a full-bodied palate, with fine tannins and a medium finish. Balanced wine. —J.S