Chateau Brane Cantenac 2023

WEINWISSER: "77 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Merlot, 1 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot, 1 % Carmenère, 13.5 Vol.-%, pH 3.59, 45.7 hl/ha. Sehr komplexes, tiefgründiges Bouquet, Wildkirsche, Sandelholz und Baumnuss. Im zweiten Ansatz Schokopraline, edle Cassiswürze und Lakritze. Am saftigen Gaumen mit einer Textur wie Samt und Seide, betörender Extraktfülle, energiegeladener Rasse und durchtrainiertem Körper, sehr dicht und präzise. Im konzentrierten Finale mit einer Explosion von Heidelbeere, Lakritze und erhabener Adstringenz. Grandiose Leistung dieses Jahr, Chapeau Henri Lurton. "

VINUM: "Besonders verführerisch im Duft; noble Röstnoten, reife, Schwarze Johannisbeere, Würze, schwarze Schokolade, Tabak, Veilchen; vollmundig im Auftakt, zupackend am mittleren Gaumen, dicht, mit grandiosem Spannungsbogen, sensationelle Tanninqualität, hervorragende Länge, ein aus dem Stein gemeisseltes Wein-Monument."

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."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Readers looking for one of the hidden gems in the vintage should jump on the 2023 Château Brane-Cantenac, an incredibly impressive Margaux that does everything right. Cassis, graphite, violets, lead pencil, and leafy tobacco notes all emerge on the nose, and it's medium to full-bodied on the palate, with classy, integrated oak, flawless balance, and fine tannins. I love its overall purity, as well as its balance, and it should need just 4-5 years of bottle age to show its potential. Tasted twice."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Cuban cigars, cedar, cassis, spice, forest floor, and flowers open the perfume. On the palate, the wine shines with its silky textures, vibrancy, and hints of salty rocks that ride along effortlessly, with its layers of, sweet, ripe, black with red fruits. There is length, and refinement. Taking close to 1 month to harvest is what the difference with 2023. This is another vintage that Brane Cantenac lovers should have in their cellars. The wine blends 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Carmenere. 13.5% ABV, 3.77 pH. The harvest took place September 4 - October 2. The Grand Vin was produced from only 40% of the harvest. Drink from 2029-2055."

JAMES SUCKLING: "This shows very pretty fruit and ultra-fine tannins that have an almost al-dente sense to them. It has a medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh, vivid finish. The tannin quality is exceptional."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Delikate florale Nuancen, Cassis, frische Waldbeeren, einladendes Bukett, Mittlere Komplexität, elegant, finessenreich strukturiert, feine Tannine, balanciert und gut anhaftend, zeigt gute Typizität, ein vielversprechender Speisenbegleiter."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2023 Brane-Cantenac is deep garnet-purple in color. Scents of blackcurrant jelly, boysenberries, and black raspberries slowly emerge from the glass, giving way to notions of charcoal, pencil lead, and a waft of tree bark. The medium-bodied palate has a solid structure of racy acidity and firm, ripe, grainy tannins supporting the tightly wound black and red fruit flavors, finishing on a lingering mineral note. The blend is 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, with pH 3.59."

THE 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."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Good depth of fruit marked by the Cabernet. Cassis and mint aromas. Fine, linear and long, the tannins polished and integrated. Really quite refined. Drink 2030 - 2045."