Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
-
James Suckling
A linear and very fine second wine with blackcurrants, and a light bitterness with lemons. Medium body. Pretty tannins. Fresh and bright. 65% merlot, 30% cabernet sauvignon, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.
Barrel Sample: 92-93 -
Decanter
Supple and lively, there's a nice energy to this with plump strawberry and raspberry fruit and a clean, almost salty tang to the mid palate. Tannins are well integrated, they're at the fore, and give the structure but have a lovely comforting texture. Juicy, clean, easy, well made, a lovely second wine with freshness, cool blue fruit and stony touches. Just a lighter version of everything...tannins, fruit, acidity. Harvest 7-19 September. Yield of 31.5hl/ha. 3.57pH. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend.
-
Vinous
The 2022 Baron de Brane is a gorgeous second wine. Merlot drives the blend, and that comes through in the wine's plush contours and forward, succulent fruit. Black cherry, plum, licorice and menthol all meld together in an effortless wine that is all charm. This is beautifully done.
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The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification but it is nonetheless important in regards to history of the area.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.