Château Brane-Cantenac - Margaux 2016 11166fe81142afc18593181d6269c740

Decanter.com

95 / 100

byJane Ansonthe10/30/2018

Wein Wisser

18,5 / 20

the5/22/2017

Tiefes Purpur mit Granatschimmer am Rand. Ein berauschendes Bouquet, viel Brombeere und Schattenmorelle, dahinter Veilchen, Earl Grey-Touch und Lakritze. Im eleganten Gaumen saftig und mit feinem Biss, mit viel Potenzial ausgestattet. Er wird mit Reife noch etwas an Tiefe zulegen, aber mit der Finesse beweist er jetzt schon seine grosseExtraklasse. Im langen Finale mit schwarzer Johannisbeere und Holunderpastillen. Mit Tendenz zur besseren Note – der Höhenflug hält an! 18.5+

Le Figaro - L'Avis du Vin

16,5 / 20

byClub Vinthe5/15/2017

Nez de fruits rouges gourmands, ronce, floral. Bouche ample, joli jus, tannins serrés, un poil asséchant, belle longueur.

Bettane & Desseauve

97-98 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Délicieuse finesse aromatique, texture de soie, tendresse et puissance, dans un équilibre quasi parfait. Peut-être le plus abouti des vingt derniers millésimes.

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The 2016 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere picked from 22 September until 17 October (the tiny parcel of Carmenere picked three days later). The yields came in at 51 hectoliters per hectare and it is matured in 75% new oak and 25% one-year-old barrels, the final alcohol level 13.3%. It has a beautifully defined, very detailed bouquet with mineral-rich black fruit laced with cedar and graphite notes, living up to its nom de plume as the "Pauillac of Margaux." The palate is simply the best that I have ever tasted at the estate, without question. This has presence, but also weightlessness, filigree tannin and perfectly pitched acidity, with real intensity and drive. The tension here is outstanding and the persistence is incredibly long. It is not the showiest of all the 2016s by a long stretch, and yet it is everything you could possibly want from a Margaux. Like Beychevelle this year, the 2016 Brane-Cantenac puts recent vintages in the shade, thanks not only to the growing season, but also a new punching down system in their gravity-fed winery that was completed in 2015. The 2016 is a benchmark against which future vintages will be compared.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

18 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/28/2017

Couleur sombre, intense et belle. Nez intense, fin et particulièrement fruité, parfumé, crémeux et même suave. Moelleux en entrée de bouche, délicat et pourtant charnu, le vin monte en bouche, riche en saveurs sur un toucher et un ensemble complexe qui s’étire long, crémeux et puissant. C’est une dégustation ascendante. Et ce style le différencie beaucoup de l’an dernier. Bravo ! Assemblage : 70 % cabernet sauvignon, 27 % merlot, 2 % cabernet franc, 1 % carmenère. Sélection : 40 % de la récolte. Rendement : 51 hl/ha. Degré d’alcool : 13°3, pH : 3.69. À noter la grande pureté de saveurs alors que sur Margaux, nombre de vignes ont souffert. Du beau travail !

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2017

Garnet in color, the wine begins with a dominant spray of flowers followed by the aroma of wet earth, spice box, mint, caramel, espresso and blackberry. Elegant but not light, this is supple, fresh, balanced and energetic with crisp, red berries, easy yet vibrant tannins and spicy notes in the finish. Blending 70% Cabernet Sauvignon , 27% Merlot , 2% Cabernet Franc and 1% Carmenere , this wine reached 13.3% with a pH of 3.69. The Grand Vin represents 40% of the harvest and the picking took place from September 22 to October 17, save for the Carmenere, which was harvested on October 20. 

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

The 2016 Brane-Cantenac is terrific, and also a worthy follow-up to the 2015, although it naturally reflects the very different personality of the year. Dark red and purplish fruit, mocha, spice and leather infuse this super-expressive Margaux. Vivid and intense, but with a perceptible feeling of translucent finesse, the 2016 is wonderfully complete and expressive. It also has quite a bit of potential to grow from there. Tasted three times.

matthewjukes.com

17 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

(70 Cabernet Sauvignon, 27 Merlot, 2 Cabernet Franc, 1 Carmenère) | 70% new oak | 13.3% alc. Smoky and quite powerful, the nose on this wine is a little coarse and this hard edge carries on through the fruit and onto the finish. Tough and tannic and also a little raw and green, this will take time to come around, but the fruit is persistent and so I am confident that it will. 17+

Decanter.com

94 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/24/2017

Gorgeous campsite woodsmoke effect on the nose and the effect, as is so often the case with Brane, is that their use of oak ageing is extremely cleverly thought out. This is a luscious wine with rich, deeply layered fruits and gentle spices, all set against well brushed, caressing tannins. This is a great vintage for this property, so effortless. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Carmenere (now old enough at 10 years, and successful enough due to the late harvest, to finally make it into the grand vin). Excellent. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/20/2017

Dark purplish crimson. Neat, unforced, smells fully ripe. Salty finish and a fine spread across the palate. Bone dry, but not too drying, finish. Cool, unforced and sophisticated. Very competent indeed.

Wine Enthusiast

94-96 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. While this wine has tannins, they're beautifully integrated with the juicy black-currant flavors to create a smooth texture. This rich ad structured wine is built for the long term.

Wine Spectator

90-93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2017

Shows a coffee edge, along with tobacco and bay notes that meld steadily into the core of steeped plum and black cherry fruit. The fleshy finish lets the bay element take an encore. A touch old-school.—J.M.

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

This is really strong from Brane-Cantenac this year with toned muscles and beautiful fruit. Full-bodied, chewy and polished. Shows wonderful intensity and density yet remains reserved and very tight. Very impressive from here. Grabs you. One of the best ever from here.