Brane Cantenac 2015

The 2015 Brane-Cantenac is powerful, structured and explosive in feel. A deep, resonant wine, the 2015 boasts off the charts ripeness allied to formidable structure and tannic heft. I imagine the 2015 is going to need a number of years to become approachable and more than that to be at its best. The dark stone fruit, smoke, tobacco, spice and leather flavors pack a huge punch, but it is the wine's balance that places it among the elite on the Left Bank in 2015. Brane-Cantenac is a total pleasure bomb. I can't wait to taste it with a little bottle age. 2027 - 2050

The 2015 Brane-Cantenac offers an exquisite array of fruit on the compelling nose: boysenberry, raspberry confit and crushed strawberry, all laced with pressed violets and an underlying chalky/mineral vein. The fresh, linear, medium-bodied palate presents supple tannin, a fine bead of acidity and just a vein of greenness on the finish that I can abide here (I’m sure it will be subsumed with bottle age and impart another facet). Superb. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Quite impressive ripe dark plums and blackberries with sweet, earthy depth and cedary background oak on the nose. The palate has smooth, slick tannins that carry rich dark fruit long and fresh. This has terrific energy and depth. Really vibrant. Incredible length. Drink from 2022.

The 2015 Brane-Cantenac is made from 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Carmenere. Deep garnet-purple colored, it storms out with powerful notes of blackberry pie, blueberry compote, and kirsch, plus suggestions of cardamom, menthol, lavender, and roses, plus a hint of cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is finely textured with great freshness and lots of perfume on the long finish.

Tasted blind. Shiny deep crimson. Pretty smart and intense on the nose. Rather subtle and glorious. Very difficult to spit because it’s so suave and layered. Good freshness and so active under the aroma. Meaty but not at all reduced. Complete.
Drink 2024-2044

Under the ownership of the Lurton family, Brane Cantenac remains classically Margaux in style but with a touch more polish than in days gone by. Always smooth and supple wine with no hard edges. The 75 hectare vineyard is planted with 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot with the rest Cabernet Franc and a touch of Carmenere. Deep colour with juicy black cherry and cassis aromas on the nose. The black fruit core on the palate is layered with vanilla and coconut, the new wood sitting alongside the primary fruit flavours. This has a polished, plush texture and very good intensity of fruit that lingers on the spicy finish.

The 2015 Château Brane-Cantenac checks in as a mix of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Carmenere brought up in roughly 75% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied beauty excels on all accounts and gives up gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, lead pencil, spice and hints of toasted bread. Polished, impeccably balanced, concentrated, and with ripe tannin, it’s a rock star in 2015 that can be drunk young or cellared for 20-25 years. Bravo! 2018 - 2043

The nose is rich and ripe with a mix of black fruits the palate has depth richness with cassis and dark chocolate supple and fleshy. A hint of vanilla at the back adds to the complexity the finish lifted has length style polished.

One of a line-up of impressive Margaux in 2015, Brane-Cantenac is at its most textured and well balanced here. The bramble, cedar wood and blackcurrant flavours are complemented by attractive oak, medium weight tannins and vibrant, palate-cleansing acidity. Drink: 2022-32

A neat and tidy Brane, with a firm red fruit theme but the volume is turned down a notch lower throughout the experience than I would have hoped for. A little too hard and coarse on the finish, this wine needs to turn the corner before it ends up being a little too mean and lean. I have a feeling it will not make it.