Winemaker Notes
Since Henri Lurton took over in 1992, he has made it his mission to produce the best possible wine, reinforcing Brane’s position as a second classified growth in 1855.
The result is a fine wine that perfectly expresses its remarkable terroir.
Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenère, 1% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Decanter
Very aromatic, gorgeous florality on the nose, so inviting and welcoming. Really open and generous - roses, violets, peonies, red cherries and strawberries. Supple and juicy, instantly quite pretty and fun, a lively bright aspect to the red fruits - cranberry, crisp green apple, raspberry and strawberry then the fine tannins come into play and give the structure and the focus to the finish. It’s a little less plush than Brane is normally - usually more gentle, fleshy and smooth - this is a little two-toned with influence from the new oak in the tightness but there’s great potential here. Feels a bit more like a St-Julien expression - calm, relaxed, smooth, intentional, juicy and lifted. Less charming right now, more tense and precise. Ageing 18 months, 100 new oak. 13.7% press wine. 40% grand vin production.
Barrel Sample: 96 -
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Château Brane-Cantenac checks in as 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carménère, and 1% Petit Verdot that spent 18 months in all new French oak. Impressive aromatics of ripe red, blue, and black fruits intermix with graphite, smoky tobacco, and spice on the nose. It's deep, dense, and concentrated on the palate, with integrated acidity and ripe tannins. This is shockingly concentrated, pure, and just a brilliant 2023 that will evolve gracefully for 30+ years. Rating: 96+
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James Suckling
Fresh and brooding nose of blackberries, mulberries and a touch of lavender. Deep and refined, with a full body and fresh acidity. The tannins are really polished and the fruit shows ripeness without excess. More blue and purple fruit on the palate. Long, tense and polished. 77% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot, 1% cabernet franc, 1% carmenere and 1% petit vedot.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is a blend of 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot (which saw some saignée), 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Carmenère and 1% Petit Verdot, and it completed its malolactic fermentation in barrels as has been the rule at this estate since the 1990s. Offering up aromas of dark cherries, cassis and spices framed by creamy new oak, it's medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with a creamy core of fruit and a long, gently lactic finish.
Barrel Sample: 93-95
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.