Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
A great Brane-Cantenac with restraint, precision and concentration. Lots of layers and nuances. Still classic and deep, with aromas of graphite, cigar box and hints of tar and paprika. So complex and refined, with a full body and a long, structured finish. Tight, but the tannins are resolved. A stunning wine. 62% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot and 8% cabernet franc.
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Jeb Dunnuck
A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 8% Cabernet Franc aged 18 months in 70% new French oak, the 2010 Château Brane-Cantenac sports a dense ruby/purple hue as well as a powerful, intense bouquet of smoky black fruits, scorched earth, graphite, and burning embers. It's medium to full-bodied, concentrated, and focused on the palate, with ripe yet certainly present tannins and a blockbuster of a finish. It's a classic 2010 in every sense. It offers pleasure today yet is only at the early stages of its prime drinking plateau, with another 30 years of longevity.
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Vinous
The 2010 Brane-Cantenac marked the first year that optical sorting was used and the replanting of a parcel of Petit Verdot. This has long been a favourite vintage, the nose in a class of its own with mineral-driven black fruit, graphite and just a touch of Earl Grey. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins. Beautifully balanced with just a slight savoury element beginning to emerge towards the finish, this blossoms in the glass and ultimately has a little more panache and grandeur than the impressive 2009. Outstanding.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Deep garnet colored, the 2010 Brane-Cantenac features bold scents of redcurrant jelly, kirsch and cassis plus nuances of forest floor, tree bark, fungi and dried herbs. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has bags of bright, energetic fruit with a grainy texture and tons of freshness, finishing long and perfumed.
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Wine Enthusiast
One of the Lurton properties in Margaux, Brane Cantenac is showing the richness of its finely placed vineyard in this 2010. Smoky wood and ripe blackberry are among the flavors of a wine that is complex, complete and concentrated. It will certainly age well.
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Wine Spectator
This is dark and grippy, with charcoal, roasted bay and chestnut leaf notes fronting a muscular core of steeped black currant, loganberry and black cherry flavors. Taut plum pit and iron hints thread the finish, revealing a lingering charcoal note. Very solid and suited for aging.
Lucien Lurton's grandfather acquired the estate in 1925, and was succeeded by his grandson in 1956. Lucien Lurton's son, Henri, currently manages the estate and puts all his efforts into producing a great Margaux in each and every vintage, reflecting Brane-Cantenac's superb vineyard soil.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Silky, seductive and polished are the words that characterize the best wines from Margaux, the most inland appellation of the Médoc on the Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Margaux’s gravel soils are the thinnest of the Médoc, making them most penetrable by vine roots—some reaching down over 23 feet for water. The best sites are said to be on gentle outcrops, or croupes, where more gravel facilitates good drainage.
The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification but it is nonetheless important in regards to history of the area. In 1855 the finest chateaux were deemed on the basis of reputation and trading price—at that time. In 1855, Chateau Margaux achieved first growth status, yet it has been Chateau Palmer (officially third growth from the 1855 classification) that has consistently outperformed others throughout the 20th century.
Chateau Margaux in top vintages is capable of producing red Cabernet Sauvignon based wines described as pure, intense, spell-binding, refined and profound with flavors and aromas of black currant, violets, roses, orange peel, black tea and incense.
Other top producers worthy of noting include Chateau Rauzan-Ségla, Lascombes, Brane-Cantenac, and d’Issan, among others.
The best wines of Margaux combine a deep ruby color with a polished structure, concentration and an unrivaled elegance.